24510: Esser: (action alert) Protest Ron Daniels/Haiti Support Project symposium on Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser <torx@joimail.com>


Contact the Haiti Support Project at (202) 397-1770 to voice your
concerns about this symposium. The statement below contains further
information:



Protest Haiti Coup Supporters Participation in Washington DC
Symposium, Thursday and Friday, March 17-8


We the undersigned would like to protest the symposium on Haiti
entitled "The Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti"; Ron
Daniels and the group with whom he is affiliated, the Haiti Support
Group, are sponsors of the symposium. The symposium is to take place
March 17-18 in Washington, DC.

At a time when thousands of Haitians have been killed, disappeared or
imprisoned without charge by an illegal coup regime, this symposium
brings together prominent supporters of the coup and of the
U.S.-sponsored opposition movement which made possible the removal of
Haiti's democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The guest list for this symposium is packed with forces that actively
undermined the democratic process in Haiti. This list includes
representatives from the National Coalition for Haitian Rights, which
spread false allegations against many, including Prime Minister Yvon
Neptune; allegations, which were used to arrest and illegally detain
him. Even as this symposium moves forward, the life of Prime Minister
Neptune is at risk as a result of months in illegal detention,
violent threats against him and now from a hunger strike protesting
his detention and the detention of hundreds of other political
prisoners.

Others attending the symposium include Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, who
provided shelter and sustenance for armed militia led by Guy
Philippe, whose armed gang ransacked northern Haiti before, during
and after the coup period.

Another participant is Frandley Julien, the leader of the
anti-Aristide opposition in Cap-Haitien, which joined in violent
attacks against Lavalas supporters during the terrible days preceding
last February's coup. Gabriel Marcella from the U.S Army War College,
who has argued for protectorate status for Haiti, also will be there.
And the list goes on and on.

This is a time for supporters of Haiti to be clear. We cannot stand
silently by while opponents of Haitian democracy spread
disinformation and build division.

It is not possible to proclaim solidarity with the Haitian people
while failing to denounce the brutal coup d'etat and occupation that
has left Haiti a graveyard for human rights. It is not possible to
support the Haitian people while giving credibility and a humane face
to those who were active in removing the first democratically elected
President of Haiti and in the repression that followed, destroying
Haiti?s democracy.

One cannot proclaim friendship with the people of Haiti while failing
to call for the return of democracy in Haiti, beginning with the
physical return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to his rightful,
constitutional position.


We support the demands of the Haitian people, as articulated on March
14, 2005 by Fanmi Lavalas:

1- Cessation of political persecution directed towards its members
and supporters

2- Liberation of all political prisoners

3-End of illegal arrests and summary executions (Over 10,000 Fanmi
Lavalas supporters killed and more than 1,000 jailed since February
2004)

4- Effective disarmament of groups and/or individuals illegally armed

5- Restoration of the constitutional order in Haiti by the physical
return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; and

6- Organization of free, honest and democratic general elections in
Haiti


Since the coup, thousands of Haitians, beginning with women and
children have been murdered, raped, put in prison. Many have
sacrificed their lives fighting for these demands, which represent
the only path towards the restoration of human rights and democracy
in Haiti.


We invite you to stand with us in supporting the above demands and in
protesting the "Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti"
symposium.


Jean-Yvon Kernizan, Haitian Initiative for Democracy

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, Fondasyon 30 Septanm

Fanm Viktim Leve Kanpe (FAVILEK) Women Victims Organization, Haiti

Pierre Hector, Konbit pou Sove Ayiti, Haiti

Paulette Joseph, Cellule de Reflexion Base Fanmi Lavalas 11eme
Departement

Pierre Labossiere, Haiti Action Committee

Marguerite Laurent, Haitian Lawyers' Leadership Network

Rasanbleman Alye Fanmi Lavalas, Haiti

Eugenia Charles, Fondasyon Mapou

Wilson Mesilien, Fondasyon 30 Septanm, Haiti

Women?s Rights for Children's Rights, Haiti

Lucie Tondreau, Veye Yo

Danny Glover, Actor/Activist

Walter Riley, Attorney-at-Law, Chair of Vanguard Public Foundation

Bill Fletcher, President, TransAfrica

Brian Concannon, Attorney-at-Law, Institute for Justice and Democracy
in Haiti

Margaret Prescod, Women of Color in the Global Women?s Strike

Andaiye, Red Thread, Guyana

David Commissiong, Clement Payne Society, Barbados

Kali Williams, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement



I support the pro-democracy Haitian community who protest "The Future
of Democracy and Development in Haiti" Symposium to take place in
Washington DC March 17-18; and I support the above stated demands.


Name/Individual or organization;

Email:

Telephone:

Fax:


Again, please contact the Haiti Support Project at (202) 397-1770 and
voice your concerns about the symposium. Also, please let members
ofthe Congressional Black Caucus know that you would appreciate their
support of the above demands, and if they already do that you
appreciate their
efforts.

Please let them know that you object to March 17-18 DC symposium.



For more information:
510.483.7481
haitiaction@yahoo.com
www.haitiaction.org

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