21732: radtimes: "Haiti Will Rise!" -- N. American Solidarity (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

"Haiti Will Rise!" -- N. American Solidarity
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the May 13, 2004
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------

IN DEFIANCE OF U.S. OCCUPATION: N. AMERICAN DELEGATION
ATTENDS WORKERS CONFERENCE IN HAITI

By Johnnie Stevens and Sharon Black
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The great poet William Cullen Bryant was quoted as saying "truth crushed
to
earth will rise again." This certainly applies to the situation of Haiti
and its workers, despite the almost complete media blockade and
distortion of the recent coup in that country and the forced exile of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

In late April-early May a delegation of U.S. and Canadian union,
community, and religious activists traveled to Haiti to break this
blockade and gather information about current conditions for Haitian
workers. They were invited to attend the conference of the Confederation
of Haitian Workers and participate in May Day activities.

Some members of the nine-person delegation were also involved in setting
up an "accompaniment project." The project's purpose is to escort and
protect those who are now facing death threats or torture because of
their support for Aristide and opposition to the coup.

The delegation included: Dave Welsh, a San Francisco Labor Council
delegate who helped to pass a resolution condemning the coup; Baltimore
City Council member Dr. Kwame O. Abayomi; Johnnie Stevens, International
Action Center activist and co-founder of Labor for Repa rations; Mic
hael Zinzun, director of the Los Angeles- based Coalition Against Police
Abuse; Kevin Skerrett from the research office of the Canadian Union of
Pub lic Employees, Canada's biggest union; Dr. Adrianne Aron, a clinical
psychologist; Charlie Hinton of the Printers Union from the San
Francisco Bay Area; and Sharon Black Ceci, Food and Commercial Workers
Local 27 steward and Maryland organizer for the ANSWER coalition.

CONFERENCE EXPOSES HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS

The Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH) is Haiti's biggest labor
organization, representing manufacturing, transportation, port,
agriculture, construction, education and many other workers. Hundreds of
representatives from different areas in Haiti participated in the CTH
conference. Debate was passionate and serious as union delegates
grappled with developing a strategy on how to proceed in an environment
that is now hostile and threatening.

CTH Secretary General Paul Loulou Chery has tremendous charisma and
energy. He is serious and determined but has a kind, friendly manner
that makes everyone around him feel respected and loved. He speaks with
tremendous anger about Andy Apaid, a sweatshop owner who is blocking
unionization and a member of The 184 Group that plotted the coup against
President Aristide.

The workers of Haiti suffer horribly in the so-called Free Trade Zone
and in the sweatshops. Workers are denied water and food rations. Wages
are set at the minimum--approximately $1.90 a day. Those who want to
join unions are beaten or fired.

The problem of contract workers adds to the difficulties of unionizing.
For instance, in the factories now running, 35 workers out of 500 are
permanent. The vast majority are now temporary workers. Workers only
receive two to three vacation days.

National Committee of Women Work ers President Ginette Apoloon speaks
with strength and conviction. She told us that health care is virtually
absent for workers. Cash payment is required.

In contrast, she said, "Under the Aristide administration there were
plans for health-care insurance that paid 50 percent of costs."

She emphasized that the union movement should demand an end to the
sexual abuse of women on the job. Women should not be compromised.

Reports are also circulating that Andy Apaid is negotiating to buy the
state-owned telephone company, Teleco, and privatize the system.

The level of frustration among the Haitian people is extremely high.
Seventy percent of Haiti's population is unemployed. Rice has now
doubled in price.

While most Haitians formerly ate one meal a day, it is now reported that
people are eating only three times a week. This was repeated by almost
everyone the delegation interviewed.

It is clear that the coup and occupation have not brought stability or a
better life for the workers, peasants and poor of Haiti.

MURDERS, JAIL, REPRISALS, AND THREATS CONTINUE

A young student discussed how she lost her student status because of her
support for Lavalas. "Many students are now in hiding. They have been
beaten up and raped", she said.

The Federation of Public Transport Work ers took the delegation to the
site of the union's cooperative to show buses that had been burned and
destroyed on the evening of the coup. The union's offices were ransacked
and their guard overpowered. Julien Atanaze, the first delegate of the
union, appealed directly for support from U.S. workers.

Without concern for his own personal safety, he had returned from Miami
to defend the union.

In the northern part of Haiti, delegates interviewed Milot Mayor Moises
Jean-Charles. He is the also a leader in the peasant movement. He
testified about murders and torture in the weeks that preceded the coup.

This area is under the command of Guy Phillipe. People had been rounded
up and killed. Hundreds of bodies were reported to have washed up on the
shore. Others were locked in shipping containers and denied food and
water.

He told us that many Lavalas supporters fled to the mountains. He also
fled. Milot asked, "Where did they [the so-called rebels] get the money
for helicopters and planes?"

He also remarked, "The Haitian elite also gives a lot of money to the
rebels."

In the Cap Haitien area, Cuban doctors have remained to practice
medicine. There are 556 Cuban medical personnel in Haiti. Despite dire
conditions they continue to provide care to the people free of charge
under a Cuban plan that provides solidarity.

AS RESISTANCE CONTINUES, CTH HOLDS MAY DAY RALLY

With U.S. troops patrolling just a block away, the CTH held a defiant
May Day rally.

It was clear to U.S. and Canadian delegates that the U.S. troops
dominated their Haitian counterparts. They were more numerous. They
conducted the checks at the intersection.

According to eyewitness reports, U.S. military personnel have killed six
people. But there have been no arrests or actions against the U.S.
forces.

In one case a person was using a cell phone and was shot to death. In
another incident, a Haitian driver who spoke only Creole did not heed a
command to stop and was gunned down.

Workers gathered to hear speeches and commemorated May Day by
pledging
to strengthen their union movement. They see the fight against the coup
and international solidarity as the key.

At the rally, U.S. delegates sang "Soli darity Forever" with fervor and
meaning. Haitian workers cheered.

One Haitian worker summed up the anger that is felt so deeply. He
repeated with conviction and pain: "This is a shame! This is a shame! We
just celebrated 200 years of independence and now we are occupied by the
U.S. and French military."

He continued: "1804 means a lot of things to Black people. It is a model
of freedom. The coup means shame!"

Future in-depth reports, including a special interview with Haiti
Progres and PPN, will follow.

.