22082: Esser: Haiti Solidarity Week summit demands return of exiled government, end to bloody reprisals (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

San Francisco Bay View
http://www.sfbayview.com

May 26, 2004


Haiti Solidarity Week summit demands return of exiled government, end
to bloody reprisals
by Willie Thompson

The sabotage of democracy in Haiti by the United States, France and
their gang of convicted thugs, assassins and terrorists intensifies
the struggle for Haitian democracy and social and economic
development. Political, military and humanitarian work on behalf of
Haiti must first deal with this crisis. The only goal for the Haiti
solidarity movement that’s equal in importance to this is stopping
the U.S.-France-paramilitary killing machine. These were the
paramount issues addressed by the Solidarity Week Coalition, more
than 30 representatives of over 50 Haiti solidarity organizations
meeting in Washington, D.C., May 17-21.

The democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean Bertrand
Aristide, is forced into temporary exile and often unable to speak
out. Congresswoman Maxine Waters says that he will go to South Africa
this week where he has been given temporary asylum. Host governments
must resist economic, military and political threats from the United
States to expel President Aristide or deny him and his family entry
to their countries. Meanwhile, the U.S.-France-Haiti killing machine
is stepping up its campaign of murder and torture of members and
supporters of Fanmi Lavalas.

The Solidarity Week Coalition proclaimed that respect for the rule of
law, the electoral process and the sovereign rights of all nations
demands that the Haitian government in exile not be blocked from
going home to Haiti. Any other position is dishonest and hypocritical
and sabotages the struggles of Haiti solidarity workers to continue
rebuilding democracy in Haiti and carrying out the progressive social
and economic agenda – work halted by the Feb. 29 coup d’état
engineered by the U.S. and France.

Rep. Waters, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, reported
that Gen. James Hill of the U.S. military in Haiti had agreed to
compensate a relative of 69-year-old Sň Anne Auguste for damage to
her home and for killing her dog. Sň Anne was detained incommunicado
May 10 in the national penitentiary after 20 U.S. Marines bombed
their way into her home, covered the heads of 11 Haitians, including
children aged 5, 10, 12 and 14, with black hoods - reminiscent of
Iraqi prisoners - forced them to lie face down on the ground, bound
their wrists behind their backs and killed their two dogs.

Waters appealed to the Haiti solidarity groups to “continue the
discussion and advocacy on behalf of Haiti. Document your findings,
talk to the press, follow election planning closely, support Lavalas
and keep up with what CARICOM is doing. The Haiti solidarity movement
is it,” the only vehicle to reveal the truth about Haiti, Waters
concluded.

A “for your eyes only” report will soon be issued along with a
summary report of the goals and strategies agreed to by the
coalition. Among the strategies discussed were media, including
writing and publishing our own news and feature stories and
identifying and working with alternative media and conscientious
journalists; organizing people’s tribunals on Haiti; increasing and
improving networking within the solidarity movement and with other
movement organizations; developing an effective liaison with the
government in exile; and strengthening the infrastructure of the
Haiti solidarity organizations with leadership, planning, delegation
of authority, accountability and collective decision-making and
implementation.

Haiti Solidarity Week was organized by Haiti Reborn of the Quixote
Center. The organizations attending include the Haiti Action
Committee, Global Justice, Haiti Solidarity, TransAfrica Forum, Marin
Interfaith Task Force, Pax Christi, September 30th Coalition, Church
World Service and Office of the Americas.

Willie Thompson is emeritus professor of sociology, City College of
San Francisco. Email him at willliemackthompson@msn.com.
.