[News] Stop the Attacks on Fanmi Lavalas - Support Free and Fair Elections in Haiti - What You Can Do!

[Anti-Imperialist News]

HAITI ACTION COMMITTEE URGENT ACTION ALERT

SUPPORT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN HAITI
STOP THE ATTACKS ON FANMI LAVALAS

On June 7th, the office of Dr. Maryse Narcisse, the presidential 
candidate of Fanmi Lavalas, the party of former President Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide who publicly endorsed her, was sprayed with gunfire. This 
blatant violence against the movement that has long represented Haiti’s 
poor majority sparked outrage in Haiti but was met by silence in the 
mainstream media in the U.S.  The State Department, which routinely 
portrays itself as a defender of democracy around the world, including 
in Haiti, had nothing to say about the attack.

This is no surprise.  The U.S., which orchestrated the 2004 coup against 
the democratically elected government of President Aristide, has been 
determined to prevent another Lavalas administration from governing in 
Haiti.  Having put in power former president Michel Martelly, who was 
associated with the disgraced Duvalier regime, through fraudulent 
elections in 2011, the State Department has been intent on imposing his 
successor through the same means. In 2015, fraudulent elections placed a 
little known Martelly protégé in the lead position heading to a run-off. 
Despite independent investigations that revealed burning of ballots, 
theft of ballot boxes, “election observers” who voted over and over 
again, and widespread voter suppression, U.S. State Department Special 
Coordinator Kenneth Merten argued that Haitians should accept the 2015 
results and move on to the next round.

But Haitians refused the dictates of the State Department with 
statements and banners declaring "We Will Not Obey". Calling the results 
an “electoral coup”, tens of thousands of people took to the streets 
demanding free and fair elections, insisting that their voices be heard 
and respected. It was only due to these popular protests that the 
Martelly dictatorial regime was replaced by an interim government, a 
verification commission was set up to investigate the elections, the 
fraud was exposed, and the 2015 elections were annulled.

This is a remarkable victory for the grassroots movement in Haiti.  But, 
as Haiti proceeds towards a new round of elections, the State Department 
and the European Union are challenging the decision to annul the 2015 
elections. Both have threatened Haiti with economic consequences if the 
electoral process does not proceed to their satisfaction. And they are 
allowing anti-Lavalas armed vigilantes like Guy Philippe, wanted as a 
drug trafficker by the DEA, to maraud through Haiti.

As the new round of electoral campaigning begins, we view with alarm the 
attack on Dr. Maryse Narcisse and Fanmi Lavalas.  We urge friends and 
supporters of Haiti to send a clear and strong message to both the State 
Department and your Congressional representatives.

* Condemn the armed attack on the offices of Dr. Maryse Narcisse and the 
continued attacks against the Lavalas movement.

* Denounce the continued interference and threats from the State 
Department and the European Union. They are attacks on Haitian 
sovereignty and self-determination.

* Support the right of the Haitian people to choose their own government 
through transparent, free and fair elections.

CALL SECRETARY KERRY’S OFFICE AT: 202-647-9572
·       GO TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AND WRITE HIM
AT: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS: (+1) 202-224-3121

For more information, contact Haiti Action Committee at:
www.haitisolidarity.net <http://www.haitisolidarity.net> or visit our 
Facebook page
You can also email us at: action.haiti at gmail.com 
<mailto:action.haiti at gmail.com>



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