21901: Esser: Action Alert: Denounce human rights violations against unionists and lavalas supporters (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Pax Christi USA
www.paxchristiusa.org

New Action Alert! Human Rights Appeal to U.S. Citizens and the
International Community Regarding Haiti

Issued by the April 18-24 EPICA delegation

After a week of meeting with a wide range of individuals and
organizations in Haiti, we urge you to denounce the vast number of
human rights violations being systematically carried out against
Aristide supporters and unionists. Under an illegal occupation and
the existence of an illegitimate government, a grave situation of
human rights abuses continues on a daily basis. These include
massacres, disappearances, summary executions, beatings, mass illegal
arrests, and political repression.

Of particular concern are the many accounts of Aristide supporters
and unionists who have been disappeared, as well as the great number
of people forced into hiding. Since February 29, 2004 these people
have had to flee their homes, becoming separated from their families,
unable to work, and having to depend on others for food, clothing,
and shelter. Many had already been victims of political rape and
violence perpetrated under the previous coup period of the early
1990's. Their voices have been silenced by the forces of military and
media oppression.

Despite the US government's proclamation of peace in Haiti, the
economic elite, in collusion with the Haitian media, are
orchestrating a climate of vigilante justice. The US- led
multinational force itself has been implicated in at least two
massacres in civilian neighborhoods, and we have heard almost
unanimously that Haitians feel betrayed yet again by the
international community.

We will issue a comprehensive report in the coming weeks, but today
we request that the following urgent actions be taken:


• Call and write your local congressperson, the United Nations:
212-963-2486, presidentga58@un.org, and CARICOM: 011-592-226-9280,
webmaster@caricom.org and tell them to immediately investigate the
circumstances surrounding the removal of President Jean Bertrand
Aristide from Haiti on February 29, 2004.

• Demand the right to asylum for persecuted Haitian citizens by
calling your local congressperson. Call Amnesty International at
212-807-8400 and Human Rights Watch at 212-290-4700 to demand that
their counterparts in Haiti, especially the National Coalition for
Haitian Rights (NCHR) investigate and denounce human rights abuses
perpetuated against Lavalas supporters.

• Call Secretary of Defense Powell: 202-647-6575, and President Bush:
202-456-1111/202-456-1414 and your local congressperson to demand
that the multinational and US forces immediately stop committing
human rights abuses. The United Nations must provide a human rights
observer team!

• Donate money to support the rebuilding of persecuted unions, human
rights organizations, and legal assistance programs that have had
their infrastructures dismantled.
.