=?x-unknown?q?22092=3A__erzilidanto=3A__=5BUTF-8=5D_US_Marine?==?x-unknown?q?s_dispute_Bay_View=E2=80=99s_accoun=5BUTF-8=5D_t?==?x-unknown?q?_of_Haiti_Flag_Day_protest_=28fwd=29?=

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Erzilidanto@aol.com


Click on for photos to article below
http://www.sfbayview.com/052604/marinesdispute052604.shtml

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US Marines dispute Bay View’s account of Haiti Flag Day protest

On Thursday and again on Saturday, the Bay View received email messages from
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Lapan, spokesman for the Multinational
Interim Force in Haiti, wanting to “correct the record regarding MIF forces and U.S.
Marines.” Lapan is disputing our coverage of the May 18 protest by 30,000 to
50,000 Haitians, headlined “At least 9 demonstrators killed during huge march
on Haiti’s Flag Day,” in last week’s Bay View. This response to Lapan by
journalist and documentary filmmaker Kevin Pina, an eyewitness, is followed by
Lapan’s first message, then by responses from Pierre Labossiere and Wanda Sabir
and finally by Lapan’s second message.

by Kevin Pina

Despite the slaughter of thousands of democracy-loving Haitians since the
Feb. 29 coup d’état, 30,000-50,000 marched for freedom on Haiti’s Flag Day May
18. And they kept marching, even into a hail of police gunfire that felled
several – their courage equal to that of their ancestors who defeated Napolean’s
best troops. The Haitians of that day are described by a French officer, Capt.
Jean-Baptiste Lemonnier-Delafosse: “But what men these Blacks are! How they
fight and how they die! One has to make war against them to know their reckless
courage in braving danger when they can no longer have recourse to strategem.
I have seen a solid column, torn by grape-shot from four pieces of cannon,
advance without making a retrograde step. The more they fell, the greater seemed
to be the courage of the rest. They advanced singing … a song of brave men.”
Photo: Haiti Information Project © 2004

I was an eyewitness to events of May 18 and wish to publicly respond to a
letter written to the SF Bay View by Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, USMC, director, Public
Affairs Office of the Combined Joint Task Force, Haiti. His letter was a
response to an account of events on May 18 written by attorney Marguerite Laurent
and published in the Bay View May 19.

While it is true I did not see the Marines fire into crowds, it is also true
they were not required to do so, as they left that dirty work to the SWAT team
of PNH or Police Nationale de Haiti (which Lapan should know is the correct
acronym, by the way, not HNP). The role of the Marines was to enter the heart
of the neighborhood of Bel Air with an extraordinary show of numbers and
firepower in a clear effort to intimidate the community.

The Lavalas demonstrators had decided earlier to use the area in front of
Perpetual Catholic Church in Bel Air, after receiving a legal permit to
demonstrate from the police, as a rallying point for their intended peaceful march
demanding the return of their constitutional President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Should Lapan decide to question whether Lavalas received such permission to
demonstrate, I have a copy of the approval document with an official PNH stamp
bearing the signature of a senior officer.

Lapan is indeed correct in describing the Marines as having “assisted” the
PNH. While the Marines intimidated the community with an excessive show of
armaments, or what he calls a “security presence,” the demonstrators would then
mass to leave the area and march down toward Champ de Mars. As they descended,
the Marines became conspicuously absent as SWAT teams wearing black battle
gear suddenly drove up to the front of the march and opened fire. It had the
appearance of a clearly designed and coordinated strategy between the U.S. Marines
and the Haitian SWAT team to forcefully break up an otherwise peaceful march.
Annette Auguste, aka Sò Anne, and Titus Simpton certainly would not agree
with this propaganda literature of a smiling white Marine surrounded by doting
Black children that is being distributed throughout Haiti. Auguste's residence
was violently assaulted by U.S. Marines and she was arrested on bogus charges
of "being a threat to stability and security in Haiti.” Titus Simpton was
murdered by the a Haitian SWAT team "assisted" by the Marines during a peaceful
demonstration on May 18 calling for the return of President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide. The grim face of this Marine watching the brave marchers on Flag Day better
represents the repressive U.S. occupation forces.
Photo: Haiti Information Project © 2004

In addition, there were several statements given on the scene that more than
one demonstrator had been shot by the Marines’ backup SWAT teams of the PNH.
There were also unconfirmed reports, as there have been on several other
occasions, that the Marines placed corpses in black body bags and immediately
removed them from the scene.

Many inquiries have been made at the General Hospital morgue in Port au
Prince and private morgues throughout the capital by countless families who have
been unsuccessful in finding the whereabouts of missing relatives who publicly
identified themselves with Lavalas. These instances of disappearances have
grown in such frequency that it has led many of the poor, whether rationally or
irrationally, to believe that the U.S. Marines may have a morgue of their own
hidden somewhere in the area of the capital.
Daniel Lescouflet, 16 years old, was shot dead at point blank range on
Haiti’s Flag Day by the regular forces of the Police Nationale de Haiti, who left in
a vehicle with license number 1-0044. Daniel, part of the rasanblement in La
Saline, was killed on the street that runs in front of the church of St. Jean
Bosco, where President Aristide used to be pastor.
Photo: Haiti Information Project © 2004

Lapan states, “Press accounts here in Haiti are that one person - not nine -
was killed during the demonstration. It remains unclear how that person died.”
As to the actual number killed on May 18, I can guarantee Lapan that the
investigation continues by credible human rights activists and journalists. I
wonder if he and his forces can claim they are doing more to investigate the truth
other than relying upon “press accounts.”

As to his statement about the one person confirmed killed by a less than
reliable Haitian press, I can state that I was a witness to the killing of Titus
Simpton. Yes, Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, USMC, you should at least know the victim
has a name and an age like yourself: Titus Simpton was 23.

He was shot and killed by a Haitian SWAT team member less than 30 yards in
front of me, and it was I who filmed his last breath as he lie bleeding from a
single shot to the head. The only weapon he had in his hands lay beside him, a
bloodied Sony Walkman he was listening to as he marched peacefully demanding
the return of his president.

After this, I attempted to film the faces of the SWAT team members who shot
towards the crowd and they immediately responded by firing off two rounds in my
direction. That Lapan states he does not know this is disingenuous, as I
later reported it to an Officer Vasquez and gave him the license plate number of
the vehicle the SWAT left in shortly after the murder of Simpton. Given his
sense of duty and military discipline, he must also know I have since been
contacted on two other occasions to verify the information.

I have interviewed every single member of Annette Auguste’s household, and
they all tell the same story. At 12:30 a.m. on the morning of May 10, a Special
Forces team of the U.S. Marines violently invaded her home using explosive
devices, terrorizing the occupants. I have photos of the damage and the
paraphernalia left behind, including blasting caps and M-60 fuses.

The Haitian police never entered the premises nor did any official magistrate
of the Haitian government. This was a unilateral home invasion undertaken
exclusively by U.S. forces as the PNH stood outside watching from their vehicles.
A warrant was asked for several times by those inside, and none was ever
produced at the scene.

While Lapan states that this armed assault was undertaken “for questioning
about threats to our forces and to stability and security in Haiti,” he then
contradicts himself by stating that PNH arrested Auguste on an outstanding
warrant. Again, every single occupant and neighborhood dweller who witnessed this
event states quite clearly that PNH never entered the premises.

If this overwhelming testimony is true, then why on earth are the U.S.
Marines executing arrest warrants for the Police Nationale de Haiti? The larger
question to Lapan is, where is the evidence to back up the U.S. claims that
Auguste was at any time a threat to “his” forces and “stability and security in
Haiti”? Provide us with the evidence and hold yourself to the same standards of
proof you demand, or maybe we should just listen to the Haitian press and
accept it as gospel.

When Annette Auguste was arraigned this week, the only charge made before the
court was a weak accusation of purported participation in events that
occurred at a university campus last Dec. 5. There was never any mention of her being
a threat to U.S. forces, stability and security in Haiti.

In fact, the presiding judge never showed up to the evidentiary hearing on
May 20, and Auguste’s lawyers suspect this is because it is clear there is no
evidence to justify continuing her incarceration. Unless this is a stalling
tactic to allow more time for Lapan and “his” forces to prepare a stronger case
for what appear on the surface to be specious and outrageous charges targeting
an individual for her political beliefs.

Can we believe Lapan and the U.S. government when they state that “last
week's arrest of Annette Auguste by the Haitian National Police had nothing to do
with planned Flag Day activities”? The only way to answer that is by citing the
role this brave woman has played in organizing previous peaceful marches and
rallies in defense of democracy in Haiti.

Anyone who knows Auguste’s history is well aware of the huge cadres of women
who heed her call in Haiti and identify themselves by dressing in white. Of
course, Lapan could not be expected to know this, as he has not been here that
long and his knowledge of the history and culture come from “official”
briefings prepared for him by military intelligence specialists.

Did Annette Auguste’s arrest have any impact on the peaceful May 18 Flag Day
demonstration demanding Aristide’s return? You certainly prove you know little
about Haiti if you think it didn’t. Lapan’s response is either mere rhetoric
approved by his superiors or proves how little he actually knows about
contemporary Haitian history.

My final offering concerning the arrest of Annette Auguste is this letter
sent May 11 from Congresswoman Maxine Waters to Secretary of State Colin Powell
which shows the serious questions raised by this incident.

“Dear Secretary Powell:

“I write to urge you to immediately investigate the circumstances of the
arrest of Anne Auguste (Sò Ann), a well-known Haitian woman, who was arrested on
or about 12:30 a.m., May 10, 2004, by U.S. military personnel in Haiti, acting
as part of the Multinational Interim Force (MIF). I have seen reports that
indicate that U.S. soldiers blew up the gates at Anne Auguste's home with
grenades and entered her house carrying machine guns. Eleven occupants of the house,
including two children, were taken into custody and interrogated. Anne Auguste
was arrested and transferred to the Haitian National Penitentiary.

“Ms. Auguste is an elderly Haitian woman on medication who is recovering from
recent surgery. Her grandson, who was one of the children detained and who
was placed in handcuffs, is a five-year-old boy. It is virtually impossible to
believe that an elderly woman and a child needed to be subjected to such
overwhelming force, even if the MIF deemed it necessary to interrogate them. Ms.
Auguste remains under arrest. While she was finally taken before a judge today,
she still has not been charged with any crime.

“It is critical that you explain why Ms. Auguste is being detained or release
her immediately. I urge you to conduct an immediate investigation into the
circumstances surrounding her arrest in order to determine the reasons for her
arrest, the charges against her - if any - and whether excessive force was used
against her or other occupants of her household. If it is determined that
excessive force was used, it is imperative that you act to hold accountable those
who were responsible.

“Finally, I urge you to monitor the actions of U.S. armed forces in Haiti and
ensure that they not take any actions that could endanger the very Haitian
people whom you say they are there to protect. I would appreciate it if you
would contact me as soon as possible to clarify the circumstances of Anne
Auguste's arrest and to advise how you intend to proceed. I look forward to your
prompt response.

“Sincerely,

“Maxine Waters, Member of Congress”

As far as the question of who fired upon me, I stated earlier it was elements
of the Haitian SWAT team who were being “assisted,” to use Lapan’s word, by
the U.S. Marines. That does not mean that I was not threatened by the U.S.
Marines. Before the killing of Titus Simpton, I was disgusted, as an observer and
journalist, to see how the U.S. Marines coordinated and provided cover for
the Haitian National Police to attack the peaceful march by Lavalas on May 18.

As I was filming in one of the calmer moments of that day, one of the Marine
grunts asked me, “What’s up?” I made the mistake of giving him my honest
opinion, to which his commanding officer on the scene responded by threatening to
handcuff me and arrest me on the spot.

I provided him with my press credentials and asked him to identify himself.
He purposely hid his name tag under the strap of his M-16 and refused three
requests I made for him to identify himself. He threatened me again with
immediate arrest if I did not leave “his” Marines alone.

I considered it a display of arrogance and abuse of authority that has come
to symbolize the U.S. Marine presence in Haiti. In my opinion, the Marines are
being used as pawns in a foreign policy debacle in the making by the Bush
administration.

The U.S. forces are now trying to pretend they have no control over the
Haitian police, while they were clearly seen collaborating and directing their
movements. Even if Titus Simpton was the only murder victim on May 18, my photo of
him drawing his last breath before dying is a symbol for the new nightmare
the Bush administration now calls democracy in Haiti.

The Haitian people deserve better, the average American soldier deserves
better and the American people deserve better.

Kevin Pina is associate editor of the Black Commentator
(www.blackcommentator.com) and special correspondent for Flashpoints on KPFA radio in Berkeley, the
flagship station of the Pacifica Radio Network.

Marines did not fire into any crowds, period

by Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, USMC

Your report on the Flag Day demonstration in Haiti is inflammatory and so
riddled with factual errors as to be nearly fictional. As the spokesman for the
Multinational Interim Force in Haiti, allow me to correct the record regarding
MIF forces and U.S. Marines.

First, Marines did not fire into any crowds, period. Marine forces of the
Multinational Interim Force did not fire any bullets - into the air, into the
ground or at individuals. No one was killed by U.S. Marines. The Marines did not
"take away" any bodies. Marines were indeed on the streets to provide a
security presence and to assist the HNP as requested, but contrary to your report,
they did not witness any "slaughter." Press accounts here in Haiti are that one
person - not nine - was killed during the demonstration. It remains unclear
how that person died.

In addition, last week's arrest of Annette Auguste by the Haitian National
Police had nothing to do with planned Flag Day activities; instead, she was
detained by MIF forces for questioning about threats to our forces and to
stability and security in Haiti. She was arrested by the HNP on an outstanding warrant.

If you have information that an American journalist was fired upon by U.S.
Marines, as you report, why do you not divulge the name or affiliation of that
reporter? Since this event never happened, as no Marines fired their weapons as
previously stated, I would be interested in speaking to the journalist to
hear from him (or her) what he believed happened.

Finally, in both this report and in your previous story on the arrest of So
Ann, you quote me or attribute statements to me even though you have never
called to speak to me directly. It is clear from both your methods and your
reporting that your publication is interested only in rumors and falsehoods. I find
no other way to characterize what you have published on events in Haiti.

If you or your correspondents are interested in the full story of what is
happening here, I'd recommend that you contact me directly, as well as the
spokesmen for the Haitian National Police and the interim government.

Lt. Col. Lapan is director of the Public Affairs Office, Combined Joint Task
Force- Haiti, APO AA 34005, (509) 514-0353/552-2659.

The Haitian diaspora has been buzzing with similar reports

by Pierre Labossiere

Marguerite (Laurent, who wrote the story Lapan is disputing) made at least
two phone calls to Haiti that I know of regarding this story and spoke to
participants in the May 18 demonstration who provided her the info that she so
movingly reported. I was also provided similar information by others on the ground.

That there could be such close collaboration between the U.S. Marines and
death squad killers in Haiti who have been integrated into the Haitian police by
U.S. occupation authorities is in itself odious and criminal. That peaceful
demonstrators running for their lives under automatic gunfire could not
differentiate between self-styled "peacekeepers" and their protégés, the "new and
improved" death squad police force, is very revealing of the repressive realities
of this occupation.

Let us not forget the consistent denunciations by the people of Haiti of the
actions of the U.S. occupation forces, from the kidnapping of President
Aristide, raids and killings particularly in poor neighborhoods greatly supportive
of President Aristide, the brutal arrest of Sò Anne and other Lavalas members,
to the hostility and menacing attitude of the U.S. military in open
collaboration with the Haitian police moments before the May 18 shootings, in their
combined attempt to break up a legally permitted demonstration.

Let the U.S. occupation forces convince those who had witnessed their
collaboration with their protégés, the death squad police, and were too
panic-stricken, fleeing for their lives, to be mindful of the "division of labor" between
U.S. forces and their protégés on this tragic day as to who actually fired on
this unarmed crowd. Reports by several participants I spoke with who were still
in shock clearly mentioned both U.S. forces and the Haitian police. The
Haitian diaspora has been buzzing with similar reports.

Pierre Labossiere is a native of Haiti and a founding member of the Haiti
Action Committee, www.haitiaction.net.

You are extremely naive or blind, Lt. Col. Lapan

by Wanda Sabir

Dear Lt. Col. Lapan:

I am responding to an email forward of your letter to my editor at the San
Francisco Bay View newspaper, where the story about U.S. Marine atrocities was
printed Wednesday, May 19, 2004, about Haitian Flag Day 2004.

We have several reports from eyewitnesses verifying the claims Marguerite
(Laurent) states in her article. Since their arrival on Haitian soil, the U.S.
Marines seem to have done nothing to help the poor and now under siege Lavalas
supporters.

While criminals run the police force and hunt Aristide supporters throughout
the countryside, the U.S. Marines, according to eyewitness reports, facilitate
the massacres by standing aside or shooting into crowds, arresting and
torturing victims themselves, then disappearing the bodies so that there is no proof.

How can you say that these reports are fallacious when we have American
citizens, journalists and members of the accompaniment units who have seen
otherwise? A few persons who returned just two weeks ago reported back on Thursday,
May 20. I was there. Visit www.haitiaction.net for more information or
www.flashpoints.net.

The Bay View doesn't want to discredit the U.S. military; however, peace is
not what the occupation is all about. It's about crippling a country that was
lame, yet beginning to take giant steps toward democratic leadership and rule -
rule of law, which is something the Marines in Haiti and elsewhere seem to
have forgotten.

Now, you can give me your side of the story, but if the protest was as large
as witnesses say, then how can you be certain that what was reported is
factual? Were you there? Do you have pictures? We do.

Congressmembers Barbara Lee and John Conyers' House Bill 3919, The
Responsibility to Uncover the Truth about Haiti (TRUTH) Commission Act, an investigation
into the events that led to President Aristide's kidnapping by U.S. Marines,
the installation of new leadership, namely Prime Minister Gerald Latortue, and
these peacekeeping forces – U.S., French, Canadian, etc., what the Haitians
call "occupying forces," the Group 184, Andre Apaid, war criminals such as Guy
Philippe, etc. - is necessary to find out why American forces are in Haiti in
the first place and what this occupation means.

No one here at home can figure out why the U.S. is so interested in Haiti.
There's no oil there. It's a democracy.

Is it simply as Bush is quoted as saying the other day that a Black nation
can't rule itself, the same sort of comment another president made about the
Philippines?

Is this what fuels this antagonistic relationship that goes back over 100
years - racism, bigotry? I'm certain the brave men and women who volunteer to
serve their country do not support such foolishness.

Haitians helped America become an independent and free nation, and this is
how our country shows its thanks, by undermining its progress every step of the
way, supporting coup after coup, including instigating and carrying out one
itself, on Feb. 29 of this year?

Either you are extremely naive or blind, Lt. Col. Lapan.

CARICOM refuses to recognize the current government. OAS had a vote yesterday
(Thursday), despite U.S. disapproval of the call to investigate Aristide's
removal.

Why is the U.S. military there? Why have soldiers displaced medical students
and set up camp in the medical school? Why are convicted war criminals in
positions of authority and allowed to terrorize those who testified against them?
These men were in prison; now they control the prisons. Children are being
killed, shot point blank just because their parents believe in justice and
democracy - what America supposedly stands for.

How can you say that the situation is getting better? Hasn't U.S. presence
made the situation worse? There is a direct parallel between what is going on in
Haiti and what is happening in Iraq regarding the U.S. military. The only
difference is that in Haiti, most if not all the casualties are on the Haitian
side.

Wanda Sabir is arts editor for the Bay View. Email her at wsab1@aol.com.

Our presence has made a positive difference

by Lt. Col. Dave Lapan

Ms Sabir: I have no desire to get into a debate with you over the political
situation in Haiti; that is not my place as a military spokesman. I would like
to address a few of the points you have made with regards to the military
presence here.

First, you say Marines have done no good since they have been in Haiti. The
attached fact sheet, which has been provided to the Haitian media as well,
lists just a few of the successes we have had since we arrived. This is just a tip
of the iceberg.

Second, as I said in my first letter, Marines have neither fired into crowds
nor stood by while Haitian police did. We have not arrested or tortured
anyone. If you have proof of such, I would be interested in seeing it, and not
simply "eyewitness" reports from those with an agenda. Talking to selected
individuals, especially if all are members of the same group, may not present an
accurate picture of events. As a journalist, you know to seek the opinions of many
people in order to corroborate stories. I have not been contacted by any
journalists who claim to be eyewitnesses to what you have reported. Nor was I
contacted by your organization to ask about the allegations before simply printing
them. What pictures do you have, other than those of bodies? How do you know
how those people in the photos were killed or injured? In Haiti (as in San
Francisco and any other population center) people die but how they died is not
always knowable. For all the accusations of Marines firing into crowds or
standing by while others did, I have seen no photos to support those claims.

All of the military forces here, including the Marines that you disparage,
adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, UN Chapter 7 (under which this force
operates) and international law. If there are violations, we take action to
correct them and hold those accountable for violating them. But that hasn't
been the case.

To answer your question, the U.S. military is here as part of a four-nation
Multinational Interim Force authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1529
(passed unanimously on Feb. 29). We are here because the commander-in-chief of
the armed forces ordered us here. And we have accomplished much in the two
months we have been here. We have our headquarters at a former medical university
because the government of Haiti authorized us to be here. When we arrived,
there were no students here and the buildings of the university had been heavily
damaged and looted. Our force has spent more than one-half million dollars to
repair and refurbish this complex. We have provided water from the wells here
to the local community. Ask those people, who had to walk miles each day for
water if they object to our presence. Because of the destruction, were we not
here, I doubt any classes would be in session. And rather than focusing on the
200 or so students who once attended classes here, why not focus on the
thousands of students across Haiti who can once again attend classes because we are
here. Before the arrival of the Multinational Interim Force, schools were
closed, businesses were closed, people stayed in their homes day and night for
fear of being killed. Those conditions no longer exist.

Are there Haitians who think we are occupiers? I'm sure there are. Are there
some who wish we would leave? Yes. But I think MOST Haitians recognize that
our presence has brought them back from the chaos that existed during February.
We can't solve all the problems that face this country or her people but our
presence has made a positive difference in the lives of many.

As for your hints of racism, I'd be happy to have you converse with the many
soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of color who are part
of our force - to include a number of Haitian-Americans - and I know you'll
hear differently. In fact, in my job, I'm paid to be diplomatic. I can't
guarantee that they'd respond in the same fashion.

Finally, other than the presence of U.S. military forces, there is nothing
connecting Iraq and Haiti. They are completely different situations and
circumstances.

Read the powerful responses to Lt. Col. Lapan by two Haitian-American
lawyers, Lionel Jean-Baptiste, a well-know reparations activist in Chicago, and
Francois-Marie Michel, a popular radio host in New York, at www.sfbayview.com.


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Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers Leadership
******

******

"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/campaigns/campaigns.html

and Haitiaction.net

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