30494: (Arthur) Action: Stop the release of money stolen by Duvalier (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: haitisupport@gn.apc.org

Stop the release of money stolen by Duvalier - 30 May 2007


To: pd@eda.admin.ch; dv@eda.admin.ch; pa2-amerika@eda.admin.ch


Dear Sir/Madam,

We understand that the Swiss government is on the point of releasing 7.6m Swiss
francs (US$6.18m) held in a Swiss bank account by the former dictator,
Jean-Claude Duvalier. This money was stolen from the Haitian State (and
therefore from the Haitian people) before Jean-Claude Duvalier went into exile
in 1986. It should not be released to the former dictator Duvalier, but instead
should be returned to Haiti to be spent on critical humanitarian and social
projects.

The Haiti Support Group - a British organisation working in solidarity with the
Haitian people for 15 years - is calling for immediate action to stop this
scandal. The Swiss government must act to block the release of the frozen
account, and allow the Haitian authorities more time to produce the details
tying the money to corruption and crime during the Duvalier dictatorship. As
you know, Haitians have only recently elected a democratic government, and it
is faced with many pressing problems. It needs more time and assistance to
produce the necessary documentation.

For over 20 years Switzerland has provided a safe haven for these funds to the
detriment of ordinary citizens in Haiti. Today the country?s socio-economic
situation is extremely grave, with 78% of Haitians living on less than US$2 a
day. The people of Haiti need their money back!

We await your response to this very serious matter.

Yours sincerely,

Charles Arthur
Director, the Haiti Support Group

cc La Commission des Affaires Extérieures du Parlement Suisse
________________________________________________________________

Forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the Haitian
people's struggle for human rights, participatory democracy and equitable
development - since 1992.

Web site: www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org

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