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<b>PROTEST HAITI COUP SUPPORTERS PARTICIPATION IN WASHINGTON DC SYMPOSIUM
<br><br>
</b>We the undersigned would like to protest the symposium on Haiti
entitled ‘The Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti,’ <br><br>
Ron Daniels and the group with whom he is affiliated, the Haiti Support
Group, are sponsors of the symposium. <br><br>
The symposium is to take place March 17-18 in Washington, DC. <br><br>
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.
<br><br>
The guest list for this symposium is packed with forces that actively
undermined the democratic process in Haiti. <br><br>
This list includes representatives from:<br><br>
<ul>
<li>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.
</ul><br>
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. <br><br>
Others attending the symposium include:<br><br>
<ul>
<li>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.
</ul>
<ul>
<li>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.
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Gabriel Marcella from the U.S Army War College, who has argued for
protectorate status for Haiti, also will be there.
</ul><br>
And the list goes on and on.<br><br>
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. <br><br>
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. <br><br>
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.
<br><br>
We support the demands of the Haitian people, as articulated on March 14,
2005 by FANMI LAVALAS:<br><br>
<ul>
<li>Cessation of political persecution directed towards its members and
supporters;
<li>Liberation of all political prisoners;
<li>End of illegal arrests and summary executions (Over 10,000 FANMI
LAVALAS supporters killed and more than 1,000 jailed since February
2004);
<li>Effective disarmament of groups and/or individuals illegally armed;
<li>Restoration of the constitutional order in Haiti by the physical
return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; and
<li>Organization of free, honest and democratic general elections in
Haiti
</ul><br>
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. <br><br>
We invite you to stand with us in supporting the above demands and in
protesting the ‘Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti’
symposium.<br><br>
<ul>
<li>Jean-Yvon Kernizan, Haitian Initiative for Democracy
<li>Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, Fondasyon 30 Septanm
<li>Fanm Viktim Leve Kanpe (FAVILEK,) Women Victims Organization, Haiti
<li>Pierre Hector, Konbit pou Sove Ayiti, Haiti
<li>Paulette Joseph, Cellule de Reflexion Base FANMI LAVALAS 11eme
Departement
<li>Pierre Labossiere, Haiti Action Committee
<li>Marguerite Laurent, Haitian Lawyers’ Leadership Network
<li>Rasanbleman Alye FANMI LAVALAS, Haiti
<li>Wilson Mesilien, Fondasyon 30 Septanm, Haiti Women’s Rights for
Children’s Rights, Haiti
<li>Lucie Tondreau, Veye Yo
<li>Danny Glover
<li>Walter Riley, Attorney-at-Law, Chair of Vanguard Public Foundation
<li>Bill Fletcher, President, TransAfrica
<li>Brian Concannon, Attorney-at-Law, Institute for Justice and Democracy
in Haiti
<li>Margaret Prescod, Women of Color in the Global Women’s Strike
Andaiye, Red Thread, Guyana
<li>David Commissiong, Clement Payne Society, Barbados
<li>Kali Williams, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
<li>Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire
</ul><br>
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. <br><br>
Name/Individual or organization<br>
Email:<br>
Telephone:<br>
Fax: <br><br>
ALSO please contact the Haiti Support Project at (202) 397-1770 and voice
your concerns about the symposium. <br><br>
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. <br><br>
For more information:
</font><a href="http://www.haitiaction.org">
<font face="Verdana" size=3 color="#003399"><b>
http://www.haitiaction.org</a></b></font><font face="Verdana" size=3> or
call (510) 483-7481.</font> <br>
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(415) 863-9977<br>
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