23989: McCalla: (discuss) FW: please urge President Bush to be compassionate towards Haitians (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Jocelyn McCalla <makala99@yahoo.com>


In his Christmas greeting last week, President George W. Bush
enjoined the people of America to be compassionate towards
others. "Christmastime," he said, "reminds each of us that we
have a duty to love our neighbor just as we would like to be
loved ourselves." Unfortunately many Haitians seeking a
temporary safe haven away from the strife, political violence
and floods that have beset their country this year have faced
the harsh reality of tough United States policies.

Reaching out to others, President Bush told us, is a
responsibility that comes with the many blessings we enjoy.
Please tell President Bush to let compassion guide his response
to Haitian emigres' plight:

1. Given the gross human rights violations committed by
government and anti-government forces, the almost complete
collapse of Haitian state authority and the ongoing political
strife, the US should provide due consideration to Haitians'
asylum claims instead of routinely denying them. This would
avoid tragic incidents such as the death in US custody last
month of 81-year old Baptist Minister Joseph Dantica shortly
after he presented himself to airport inspectors and expressed
the wish for asylum in the US in order to stay longer than the
other times he was admitted into the country.

2. Provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to non-immigrant
Haitians in the US because of the devastating floods and
political violence that have seriously endangered Haiti's
stability and development prospects. During the next 18 months,
these Haitians can do more for their homeland through
remittances and hard work than by joining the throngs of jobless
and destitute Haitians living on international charity.

3. Be lenient towards Haitian refugees who, but for minor
technicalities, qualify for the benefits of the 1998 Haitian
Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA), yet might be uprooted
and separated from loved ones.

4. Suspend the forcible expulsion of Haitians who languish in
jail awaiting deportation, like Pfc. Joseph Louis Jeune who has
twice risked his life in Iraq for the US and has spent Christmas
deprived of his liberty, away from his US citizen spouse and
child on an aggravated felony charge.

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this very
important matter.

Jocelyn McCalla
Executive Director
Sign this petition via the web at:
http://ga4.org/campaign/tps_compassion/g733bd4ojdd6ej

The movement for a non-violent, rights-respecting and prosperous
Haiti takes off with the inclusion of friends, relatives and
associates who, like you, care about the well-being of their
next door neighbor. Please click on the link below to tell them
about the National Coalition for Haitian Rights and urge them to
join the movement.
http://ga4.org/campaign/tps_compassion/forward/g733bd4ojdd6ej

We encourage you to take action by January 30, 2005

President Bush, Be Compassionate Towards Haitians

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:

http://ga4.org/campaign/tps_compassion/g733bd4ojdd6ej

Petition:
In your Christmas greeting last week, you enjoined the people of
America to be compassionate towards others. "Christmastime," you
said, "reminds each of us that we have a duty to love our
neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves."
Unfortunately many Haitians seeking a temporary safe haven away
from the strife, political violence and floods that have beset
their country this year have faced the harsh reality of tough
United States policies.

Reaching out to others, you told us, is a responsibility that
comes with the many blessings we enjoy. Please let compassion
guide your response to Haitian emigres' plight:

1. Given the gross human rights violations committed by
government and anti-government forces, the almost complete
collapse of Haitian state authority and the ongoing political
strife, the US should provide due consideration to Haitians'
asylum claims instead of routinely denying them. This would
avoid tragic incidents such as the death in US custody last
month of 81-year old Baptist Minister Joseph Dantica shortly
after he presented himself to airport inspectors and expressed
the wish for asylum in the US in order to stay longer than the
other times he was admitted into the country.

2. Provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to non-immigrant
Haitians in the US because of the devastating floods and
political violence that have seriously endangered Haiti's
stability and development prospects. During the next 18 months,
these Haitians can do more for their homeland through
remittances and hard work than by joining the throngs of jobless
and destitute Haitians living on international charity.

3. Be lenient towards Haitian refugees who, but for minor
technicalities, qualify for the benefits of the 1998 Haitian
Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA), yet might be uprooted
and separated from loved ones.

4. Suspend the forcible expulsion of Haitians who languish in
jail awaiting deportation, like Pfc. Joseph Louis Jeune who has
twice risked his life in Iraq for the US and has spent Christmas
deprived of his liberty, away from his US citizen spouse and
child on an aggravated felony charge.

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this very
important matter.

--------------------------------------------------

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
National Coalition for Haitian Rights at:

http://ga4.org/nchr/join.html?r=DdqrIt71ojljE