[News] Oppose Haiti Conference: Coup Supporters in DC Symposium

[News at freedomarchives.org]

PROTEST HAITI COUP SUPPORTERS PARTICIPATION IN WASHINGTON DC SYMPOSIUM

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.
    * 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:

    * Cessation of political persecution directed towards its members and 
supporters;
    * Liberation of all political prisoners;
    * End of illegal arrests and summary executions (Over 10,000 FANMI 
LAVALAS supporters killed and more than 1,000 jailed since February 2004);
    * Effective disarmament of groups and/or individuals illegally armed;
    * Restoration of the constitutional order in Haiti by the physical 
return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; and
    * 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
    * Wilson Mesilien, Fondasyon 30 Septanm, Haiti Women's Rights for 
Children's Rights, Haiti
    * Lucie Tondreau, Veye Yo
    * Danny Glover
    * 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
    * Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

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:

ALSO please contact the Haiti Support Project at (202) 397-1770 and voice 
your concerns about the symposium.

Please let members of the 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: 
<http://www.haitiaction.org>http://www.haitiaction.org or call (510) 483-7481.

The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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