21929: erzilidanto: Haiti Report - Haiti Briefing/Press Conference 5/18 @10am (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Erzilidanto@aol.com

CONTACT: Eugenia Charles, 301-699-3443 x110 or 301-537-8162,

Eugenia@haitireborn.org


MEDIA ADVISORY


RECENT DELEGATIONS TO HAITI CONDEMN THE COUP D’ETAT AND REPORT ON

WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

U.S. Troops in Haiti Take Part in the Campaign of Terror


WHO: Four delegations traveled to Haiti in the last twelve weeks since the

coup d’etat of February 29 to bear witness to the aftermath of a mordern

coup. Members of the observer teams condemn the violent overthrow of Haiti

democratically elected government. The participants and leaders will give

testimonies about the terror campaign gripping the country today. The

Quixote Center, the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the Ecumenical

Program on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA) led delegations to

Haiti. An International Labor/Religious/Community (ILRC) Delegation

returned most recently, the first week of May. The Quixote Center, NLG and

EPICA reports will release their reports and make them available. Speakers

will include Melinda Miles, Quixote Center; Nicole Lee, the Let Haiti

Live: Coalition for a Just U.S. Policy; Olivia Goumbri, EPICA; Tom

Griffin, NLG; Sharen Black and Reverend Dr. Kwame O. Abayomi, ILRC. This

event is co-sponsor by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Haiti for Change,

Haiti Action Committee; Partners in Health, Church World Service and

National Council of Churches of Christ.


WHAT: A Briefing and Press Conference on Capitol Hill, and the release of

the Quixote Center Emergency Haiti Observation Report, the EPICA People’s

Delegation Findings, International Labor/Religious/Community Delegation,

and the National Lawyers Guild Report.


WHERE: 2456 Rayburn Office Building, 4th Floor

         Locates between Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street


WHEN: 10am – 11:00am, May 18, 2004 as part of the National Day of Action

for Haiti.


WHY: U.S. citizens traveled to Haiti to observe the situation after the

coup d’etat of Feburary 29 and discovered a dramatic increase in terror

and escalating human rights violations in Haiti. These systematic attacks

target mostly impoverished supporters of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand

Aristide, his Fanmi Lavalas party and democracy activists.


The United States led Multinational Interim Force (MIF) is not creating a

greater sense of security in Haiti. Disarming so-called “rebels”,

resurgent military and paramilitary is not part of the mission. The

disarmament missions are being carried out during the night in poor

neighborhoods known to be Lavalas strongholds. American helicopters

inspire fear while flying close to the ground without lights during the

night.


Reports that U.S. Marines have participated in the campaign to find,

arrest, and in some cases execute, members and supporters of Lavalas

deeply disturbed delegation members. The most recent report is that on the

night of May 10, U.S. Marines attacked the home of Annette August, an

elderly Lavalas supporter. They arrested all present, including four

children, and took them from the house with bags over their heads.

Witnesses at the scene the following day report widespread destruction of

the house, and the remnants of American explosives littering the exterior.


Quixote Center – P.O. Box 5206 – Hyattsville, MD – 20782 –

www.haitireborn.org - Eugenia@haitireborn.org - 301-699-3443 x110





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Forwarded by Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
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"Men anpil chaj pa lou"  is Kreyol for - "Many hands make light a heavy load."

See, The Haitian Leadership Networks'  7 "men anpil chaj pa

lou" campaigns to help restore Haiti's independence, the will of the mass
electorate and the rule of law. See,
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/haitianlawyers.html ; http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/concerns.html

and Haitiaction.net

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