22699: radtimes: Boston protest hits repression in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

Boston protest hits repression in Haiti

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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the July 15, 2004
issue of Workers World newspaper
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BOSTON PROTEST HITS REPRESSION IN HAITI

An emergency picket was held in front of the Haitian Consulate here on
July 2 to protest the arrest of former Prime Mini ster Yvon Neptune.
Neptune had served under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He was
arrested June 27 by the regime of Gerard Latortue, who was installed
after the United States sent troops to Haiti and kidnapped Aristide in
February. Many Haitians do not recognize the new regime.

The demonstration, called by the newly formed New England Human Rights
Organization for Haiti, included representatives of Aristide's party,
Fanmi Lavalas, as well as ANSWER Boston, Steel Workers Local 8751 and
Venezuelans from the MLK Bolivarian Circle. They chanted, "No Aristide,
no peace," "U.S. CIA out of Haiti," and "Free Yvon Neptune, free So
Ann." So Ann is a popular folk singer and a grandparent jailed by
the new regime.

The protest called attention to the kidnapping of Aristide and the
continued occupation of Haiti by U.S., French and other forces.
Thousands of Lavalas supporters have been brutally murdered or forced
into exile by U.S.-armed "contras" such as the notorious Guy Philippe.
Many of the protesters were interviewed live by a radio station in
Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.

-- Peter Cook

.