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21153: erzilidanto: Haiti's Sacrifices Unite World-This Week in Haiti Progres-22:03 03/31/2004 (fwd)
From: Erzilidanto@aol.com
IN OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR:
HOW HAITI'S SACRIFICE IS UNITING THE WORLD
by Marguerite Laurent
So much innocent Haitian blood has been spilled since January 1,
2004. But throughout history, Haitian blood has paved the way for
African dignity and survival. It's a crushing weight, but one
that we and our ancestors have borne as Haitians over the past
200 years.
We have witnessed a river of blood and senseless killings,
detentions and arbitrary arrests. Despite it all, 2004 is
already Haiti's miracle year: she has united the African Union
and CARICOM.
Like founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines' army, we are
rising. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has
suddenly cancelled his "triumphant visit" to Haiti because his
government suffered a major loss in the French elections. We have
to wonder whether the French electorate is sending the French
government a message about its military intervention into Haiti.
The French are beginning to realize that the Haitian people's
demand for $21.7 billion in restitution hasn't gone away, despite
the coup d'état orchestrated by the U.S. and France on February
29, 2004. In fact, the cycle of debt, dependency and foreign
domination tearing Haiti apart for 200 years has been highlighted
by the intervention. All the world can see how the constant
interference by the Euro/U.S. nations is intended to keep Haiti
impoverished.
The blood of the African ancestors is at work.. Frantic and
desperate pressure by the neocon clique Roger Noreiga, Colin
Powell, and Condi Rice has failed to move CARICOM... for now.
Its 15-member nations, along with Venezuela, have refused to
recognize the de facto government which Washington set in place
in Haiti.
Dessalines' army is rising.
Despite ten years of a constant U.S./Euro destabilization
campaign from 1994 to 2004, Haitians still built more schools
than ever in Haiti's history. We built hospitals and public parks
in the poorest neighborhoods. We put more electricity in more
towns than ever before. The government recognized the Vodun
culture. It brought the literacy rate down from 85% to 48%. It
recognized Kreyňl as one of our official languages, and Haitians
wrote more books in Kreyňl than ever before. Haitians from the
diaspora sent to Haiti more than $850 million a year. These are
our accomplishments. We may celebrate them. They are the facts
hidden behind the headlines. Let's not forget our miracles
accomplished despite the past ten years of U.S./Euro
destabilization.
In 2004, despite imperialism's coup d'état in Haiti, let us
commit to:
1. Celebrate our ancestors' great victory and our rich Vodun-
based culture. Despite the lies, Black civilization, beauty, law
and justice in Haiti shall rise.
2. Empower the poor and now disenfranchised in Haiti. We shall
continue to mobilize human rights monitors to help save the lives
of the Haitian poor, who are now in the greatest jeopardy since
the last U.S.-backed dictatorship years in Haiti.
3. Mobilize the vote against Bush, Jr. We shall continue to
mobilize the Haitian-American vote and to connect it with the
grassroots U.S. movement working to reclaim U.S. democracy. We
will lift the boot Bush has put on our Haitian dream for
democracy, on our people's neck in Haiti and on those
"indefinitely detained." This time the Black vote shall count!
4. Support the people of Jamaica for their stand for Haitian
democracy. Let us thank the nations of CARICOM and the African
Union who recognize that the will of the Haitian majority was not
respected by the powerful nations in the world.
5. Call for the $21.7 billion debt owed by France to Haiti not to
be forgotten. This restitution, on the contrary, should be
expedited;
6. Call for the murderers, ex-army and FRAPH mercenaries to be
deported to the U.S. or France where they may join their bosses;
7. Use this opportunity to show the world that democracy in Haiti
is not just about President Aristide. The Haitian people, and
Haitian women in particular, have a right to life, shelter,
security, education, health care, justice, and freedom of
association and speech.
Coup d'état or no coup d'état, Haitians have the richest culture
in the Western Hemisphere and defeated Napoleon, Britain, Spain
and a U.S. embargo back in 1803. We were the first to put liberty
into application in the Western Hemisphere. No other. That is
part of what it means to be Haitian. That is the Haitian identity
that has survived embargoes, 32 U.S./Euro sponsored coup d'états
and slavery before that. We shall overcome this U.S./France
orchestrated coup d'état also. No matter how many dollars and
euros France, Canada and the U.S. mobilize against us, we will
continue our struggle for liberty and rights for the wretched of
Haiti and the earth.
-------------------------
Marguerite Laurent is a Haitian-American poet, author, dancer,
and lawyer living in Connecticut. She heads the Haitian Lawyers
Leadership Network.
All articles copyrighted Haiti Progres, Inc. REPRINTS ENCOURAGED.
Please credit Haiti Progres.
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Dessaline's army is rising....Our Haitian blood shall not be poured in vain.