21053: White: Maxine Waters' letter to Colin Powell 4-1-04 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>

April 1, 2004


The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Room 7261
Washington, DC  20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

         We write to urge you to provide all necessary personal
protection, and safe passage out of Haiti should they choose to
leave, to Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and other Lavalas Party
officials whose lives are being threatened in Haiti.

         Prime Minister Neptune had his home burned down during last
month's uprising.  Because of the substantial risks to his life, he
went into hiding on March 10, 2004, after his successor, Gerard
Latortue, took office.  Since that time, Prime Minister Neptune has
been moving secretly from one friend's house to another.  He also
recently learned that his name is on a list of Lavalas Party
officials whom the thugs are targeting for murder.

         As you know, many of the thugs who were involved in the
mayhem and criminal activities that led to the departure of President
Aristide, including Guy Philippe, Louis-Jodel Chamblain and
Jean-Pierre Baptiste, have a long history of killing Lavalas Party
supporters.  There is substantial evidence to indicate that the lives
of Lavalas Party officials are in danger if they do not receive
immediate protection by U.S. and multinational forces.

         We implore you to act immediately to do whatever is required
to protect Prime Minister Neptune and other Lavalas Party officials
whose lives are being threatened and provide them with safe passage
out of Haiti if they choose to leave.

Sincerely,


Maxine Waters
Jan Schakowsky
John Conyers
Donald Payne
Diane E. Watson
Barbara Lee
Donna M. Christensen
Corrine Brown
Ed Towns
Raul Grijalva
Major Owens
Charles Rangel
Sheila Jackson-Lee