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From: "Pierre Labossiere"
<pierrelabossiere@hotmail.com><br><br>
<br>
please distribute widely<br><br>
Send an Unmistakable Message to the U.S. State Department:<br><br>
No Coup in Haiti!<br><br>
Phone, fax, e-mail, and send letters to Secretary of State Colin Powell
today.<br><br>
(For contact information and sample letter, see below)<br><br>
<br>
BACKGROUND:<br><br>
In the past week, armed gangs have roamed through major cities in Haiti,
attacking police and civilians in an increasingly violent campaign to
overthrow the democratically elected government of Jean Bertrand
Aristide. Describing the so-called "rebel group" leading these
assaults in Gonaives, Scott Wilson of the Washington Post (no friend of
the Aristide government) wrote that "at its upper echelons the group
appears led by former members of the Haitian military, dissolved in 1994
when Aristide returned to power, and the paramilitary group that opposed
him". These same paramilitary forces were responsible for the 1991
coup and the bloody years following. Known as FRAPH during the coup
period, these paramilitary forces killed thousands and committed
countless acts of torture during that time. Now they have
resurfaced.<br><br>
The people of Haiti have seen enough of these thugs before. They have
also tasted democracy, which explains why so many Haitians have taken to
the streets to defend the Aristide government. In a demonstration in
Port-au-Prince on February 7, hundreds of thousands rallied in support of
the government, vowing to never give in to violence or intimidation.
Marchers held up five fingers to signify their determination that
President Aristide completes his five-year term. (See www.haitiaction.net
for photos of these demonstrations.)<br><br>
Rather than support the populace and denounce the brutal coup attempt,
the United States government has instead seized the opportunity to
continue its assault on President Aristide. On February 9, State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters, "We recognize
that reaching a political settlement will require some fairly thorough
changes in the way Haiti is governed... I think that could indeed involve
changes in Aristide's position."<br><br>
In a letter from U.S. Representative Barbara Lee to Secretary of State
Colin Powell dated February 12, the Congresswoman charges:<br><br>
"I must say, Mr. Secretary, that our failure to support the
democratic<br>
process and help restore order looks like a covert effort to
overthrow<br>
a government. There is a violent coup d'etat in the making, and it
appears<br>
that the United States is aiding and abetting the attempt to violently
topple<br>
the Aristide Government. With all due respect, this looks like 'regime
change'."<br><br>
The Haiti Action Committee condemns the blatant U.S. attempt to sabotage
Haiti's constitutional government. The State Department has given the
green light to opposition forces in Haiti who are trying to seize power
through violent means -- that which they have never been able to win
through elections. As the violence continues to mount in Haiti, the U.S.
government bears a high degree of responsibility.<br><br>
Send a clear message to the State Department: Denounce all attempts at a
coup. Respect the rule of law. Respect democracy. Respect the
constitutional government of Haiti.<br><br>
Haiti Action Committee<br>
<a href="http://www.haitiaction.net/" eudora="autourl">www.haitiaction.net</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>
<br>
URGENT ACTION:<br><br>
Please phone, fax, e-mail, and send letters to Secretary of State Colin
Powell immediately.<br><br>
<br>
SAMPLE LETTER:<br><br>
Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State<br>
Fax: 202.647.2283 or
202.647.5169<br>
Phone: 202.647.5291 or 202.647.7098<br>
Mail: U.S. Department of
State<br>
2201 C Street NW<br>
Washington, DC 20520<br>
E-mail: via
<a href="http://contactus.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html" eudora="autourl">http://contactus.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html</a><br><br>
<br>
February 13, 2004<br><br>
Secretary Powell,<br><br>
On February 9, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters,
"We recognize that reaching a political settlement will require some
fairly thorough changes in the way Haiti is governed... I think that
could indeed involve changes in Aristide's position". This
irresponsible statement represents a thinly veiled green light to
opposition forces to press ahead with their increasingly violent attempts
to overthrow the democratically elected government of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.<br><br>
I urge you to formally and officially reject this underhanded approach in
favor of a negotiated, peaceful solution to the crisis in Haiti, as
called for by President Aristide, the Council of Haitian Bishops and
CARICOM. I call on you to denounce all further coup attempts. The
United States must respect the rule of international law, the
constitutional government of Haiti and the will of the Haitian
people.<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS (as time permits):<br><br>
Haiti Desk Officers, U.S. State Department:<br><br>
Joseph<br>
Tilghman<br>
Fax: 202.647.2901<br>
Phone: 202.647.5088<br>
email: tilghmanjf@state.gov<br><br>
Lawrence Connell<br>
Fax: 202.647.2901<br>
Phone:<br>
202.647.6765<br>
email: unknown<br>
Please help distribute this urgent action call widely.<br><br>
Fax early, and fax often!!<br><br>
Thank you for your assistance in this urgent matter.<br><br>
You may forward a copy of your messages to
haitiaction@yahoo.com<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
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(415) 863-9977<br>
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