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In this e-mail:<br>
1. Note from Father Jean Juste on fresh killings today of unarmed
demonstrators calling for a stop to the U.S.-backed repressive Latorture
regime;<br>
2. Congresswoman Waters demands that the Senate Investigate Arms
Shipments to Haiti under the Tenure of John Bolton;<br>
3. Prime Minister Yvon Neptune's Letter from Prison<br>
4. Letter Protesting Torture of Prime Minister Yvon Neptune By
Bush-backed Latortue regime in Haiti<br>
*************************************************************************<br>
HLLN Note:<br><br>
Below is a note from Father Jean-Juste on new killings by the
U.S.-backed/Canadia-trained Haitian police. Please raise your voices
against not only the arming of this murderous regime in Haiti (see
Congresswoman Waters press release); the current seige in Cite Soleil,
where U.N. troops start shooting in the air while the populous is ASLEEP
at 4 am in the morning, but continue to kill Haitians, force them to
observe a curfew, identify themselves before intering their own homes and
communities. Haiti is not at war with anyone. All Haitians did was vote
and democratically elect a leader the U.S./Canada/France have a
pathological hatred for. Please help us speak truth to power and demand
that these powers stop criminalizing Haitians in order to summarily
execute them in their own homes and communities. This U.N. sponsored
bloodbath in Haiti must stop. Father Jean Juste is in grave danger of
being assassinated by this death regime for his denouncing these
killings. Please call on the U.S. government to stop this blood bath in
Cite Soleil and elsewhere in Haiti and to protect the lives of Father
Jean Juste, Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and other supporters of the rule
of law and justice in Haiti. Also included in this e-mail is a letter
from Prime Minster Yvon Neptune about being beaten and abused in prison
last Friday and a letter supporting Neptune that may be used as an
example letter for those interested in denouncing Yvon Neptunes
treatement/incarceration and to demand his and all political prisoners'
immediate release. HLLN, April 27, 2005.<br>
****<br>
Father Jean Juste's Call for international help and action on behalf of a
traumatize Haitian populous:<br><br>
Dear Friends,<br>
By 1:00 PM today Wednesday April 27, 2005, Haitian
Police have in cold blood shot on peaceful marchers, mostly President
Aristide's supporters. The counting is still on. At least five young
marchers have been shot dead in an area near Bourdon, East of Capital,
Port-au-Prince. The wounded ones have not been counted yet. Some school
children are wounded too. Please raise your voices against these acts of
inhumanity. The march was organized by a group from Bel-Air. They were
heading toward the headquarter of the MINUSTAH in Bourdon. The marchers
were chanting: Aristide must come back; Freedom for the political
prisoners;<br>
Democracy yes, Dictatorship no. Wait for more information later. There
was absolutely no action from the peaceful marchers to provoke this
massacre. OUR HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED IN HAITI
NOW.<br><br>
***********<br><br>
<br><br>
PRESS RELEASE<br><br>
For Immediate
Release
(323) 757-8900<br><br>
April 27,
2005
<br><br>
<br>
CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS DEMANDS THAT<br><br>
THE SENATE INVESTIGATE ARMS SHIPMENTS TO HAITI<br><br>
UNDER THE TENURE OF JOHN BOLTON<br><br>
<br>
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) released a
statement denouncing last year’s shipment of thousands of weapons to
Haiti by the U.S. Government, in violation of a 13-year-old arms embargo
on Haiti, and demanding that the United States investigate why John
Bolton allowed these weapons sales to occur while serving as Under
Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
Affairs. Her statement follows recent press reports that a State
Department official admitted that the United States transported 2,657
weapons to Haiti last August to train and equip the Haitian National
Police. These weapons included several M-14 rifles and sub-machine
guns, as well as over 2000 revolvers and hundreds of pistols. The
Congresswoman’s statement follows:<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
I am
deeply disturbed to learn that, over the weekend, the U.S. State
Department admitted that the United States shipped thousands of lethal
weapons to Haiti last year, in violation of our government’s 13-year-old
embargo on arms shipments to Haiti and despite the dreadful human rights
record of Haiti’s unelected interim government.<br><br>
<br><br>
I call
upon the United States Senate to investigate these arms shipments to
Haiti, which occurred while John Bolton was serving as Under Secretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. It is
critical that Senators determine why John Bolton allowed the arms embargo
on Haiti to be violated before they vote on his nomination to the
position of United States Ambassador to the United Nations.<br><br>
<br><br>
The
arms embargo on Haiti was enforced throughout the administration of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically-elected President of
Haiti. Because of the arms embargo, the democratically-elected
government of Haiti could not purchase weapons from the United States to
train and equip the Haitian police to carry out their law enforcement
responsibilities.<br><br>
<br><br>
President Aristide was overthrown in a coup d’etat on February 29, 2004,
by a group of heavily armed thugs and replaced by an illegitimate interim
government that does not have the support of the Haitian people.
Many of these thugs were former soldiers from the brutal Haitian army,
which was disbanded ten years ago. Since the coup d’etat, violence
and insecurity have escalated throughout Haiti. Groups of
heavily-armed former soldiers roam Haiti freely, and the interim
government has made no attempt to enforce the rule of law or disarm the
former soldiers.<br><br>
<br><br>
The
human rights record of the interim government of Haiti is
horrendous. The Center for the Study of Human Rights at the
University of Miami Law School reported that summary executions are a
police tactic, and Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns
about arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment in detention centers, and summary
executions attributed to members of the Haitian National Police.
Many of the thugs behind the coup d’etat have been incorporated into the
police force, and it has been reported that some police officers funnel
arms to paramilitary groups that are even more brutal. Given this
record, it is highly likely that the weapons shipped to Haiti by the
United States last August were used in the commission of human rights
violations. <br><br>
<br><br>
Before
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations votes on the nomination of John
Bolton, the Committee must determine why he allowed the State Department
to ship weapons to the illegitimate interim government of Haiti in
violation of the arms embargo and despite evidence of serious human
rights violations.<br><br>
<br><br>
###<br><br>
*******<br>
Marilyn Mason Note: Below is an English translation of former Haitian
Prime Minister Yvon Neptune's recent letter from prison, after his
transfer to the Pacot Annex on April 21st and after his harrowing, yet
unfruitful, trip to St-Marc on April 22nd. It is followed by the Haitian
Creole version, and then by URLs to photocopies of his handwritten
letter. I would encourage you to distribute it broadly amongst your
circle of contacts. Yvon Neptune merits our moral support and advocacy.
Marilyn Mason, Email: MariLinc@aol.com<br>
Web:
<a href="http://hometown.aol.com/CreoleCH/Index6.html" eudora="autourl">
http://hometown.aol.com/CreoleCH/Index6.html<br>
</a>Creole LInks Page:<br>
<a href="http://hometown.aol.com/MIT2Haiti/Index4.html" eudora="autourl">
http://hometown.aol.com/MIT2Haiti/Index4.html<br>
</a>*********<br><br>
Letter from Yvon Neptune: English translation [Serge Bellegarde, Guy
Antoine, Marilyn Mason]:<br><br>
<br><br>
>From the time I left the Prime Minister's residence on March 12,
2004, up until June 27, 2004, the source of my insecurity had been the
Government itself. When the Government had me arrested on June 27, up
until today, not only did this source of my insecurity increase and
became more direct, but even worse, the Government deprived me of my
freedom of movement, together with my freedom to speak freely, with all
the length and breadth and depth that the Constitution allows for this
right to be exercised.<br><br>
The hunger strike I began on February 20 was aimed at forcing the
Government to set me free and to stop being the cause of my
insecurity.<br><br>
Because of a promise the Government had made that it was going to
liberate me, I accepted to put an end to my hunger strike and to go to
the Argentine Hospital under the jurisdiction of the MINUSTAH/United
Nations.<br><br>
Even while in that hospital, however, my insecurity continued because of
the Government’s continuing refusal to set me free.<br><br>
That is why, while I was in the Hospital managed by the
Argentinians/MINUSTAH, I continued to resist so that the United Nations
would not send me to the trap of the supposed Villa in Pacot, but rather,
that it would require instead that the Government free me and stop
threatening my life. It was in the context of the dilatory tactics of
this wicked Government that I was obliged to resume my hunger strike with
even more force and why I am continuing it in the prison in Pacot, still
with the aim of regaining my freedom and my security.<br><br>
My friends, listen. On April 20, here is the information I had passed on:
“… this plot aims at keeping me in prison by all means for as long as
possible; that is one objective. The second objective is to take me, no
matter what the conditions, to Saint-Marc to continue the political
humiliation…” Friends, listen: while I was already into the fifth day
of my complete hunger strike, on Thursday afternoon, April 21, having
given me guarantees that nothing would happen to me, the United Nations
Forces took me, against my will, to a supposed Prison Villa in Pacot,
close to the General Administration and Inspection Headquarters of the
Police, despite the fact that I had explained to the UN Representative
that this was a trap that the de facto Government had set up to implement
the death plan it had for me. Above all, I told them that I would
maintain my hunger strike in the supposed Prison Villa as long as I was
not set free.<br><br>
My friends, on Friday April 22, early in the morning, a team of 7 to 10
executioners I recognized from the prison system burst in on me to take
me to Saint-Marc. I felt my life was in danger in the presence of these
executioners; I told them I had not eaten, nor drunk anything in five
days, and I asked them to leave me in peace because I was weak. When they
picked me up with force, put me outside, and tried to handcuff me, I
resisted for my life and I bit one of the many arms trying to force
handcuffs on my wrists.<br><br>
They drove me to Saint-Marc. I threw up all along the way. When we
arrived in Saint-Marc, nothing was done. Supposedly, Mrs. Cluny Pierre
Jules, the supposed Investigating Judge declared that she was not coming
because she had not been previously notified.<br><br>
When the UN Representative received news of what the conditions were in
Saint-Marc and of what kind of state I was in, he sent a helicopter to
pick me up and take me back to Port-au-Prince, where I received some care
in a UN ambulance which escorted me back to the supposed Prison Villa in
Pacot.<br><br>
I am continuing my hunger strike, so that I can regain my freedom and my
security and so that the de facto Government will stop threatening my
life, while it continues to trample on my dignity.<br><br>
Yvon Neptune<br>
Former Prime Minister<br>
Member of Fanmi Lavalas<br>
Political Prisoner<br>
At the Prison in Pacot, Port-au-Prince<br><br>
<br><br>
URLs to photocopies of original (Kreyol) handwritten Yvon Neptune
letter:<br><br>
1)
<a href="http://haitiforever.com/neptune-letter-page1.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://haitiforever.com/neptune-letter-page1.jpg<br><br>
</a>2)
<a href="http://haitiforever.com/neptune-letter-page2.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://haitiforever.com/neptune-letter-page2.jpg<br><br>
</a>************<br><br>
LETTER PROTESTING TORTURE OF PRIME MINISTER YVON NEPTUNE BY U.S.-BACKED
REGIME IN HAITI:<br><br>
<br>
Date:<x-tab> </x-tab>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:39:38 EDT<br>
Subject:<x-tab> </x-tab>
Re: TORTURE<br>
To:<x-tab> </x-tab>noriegarf@state.gov,
BanksD@state.gov, kongo-doudou@un.org, KonareAO@africa-union.org<br>
CC:<x-tab> </x-tab>OASLeinaudi@oas.org,
Hunterj14@aol.com, (et al..see more contact info on HLLN website)<br>
Orlando, Florida this 24th day of April, 2005<br>
<br>
Ladies and gentlemen:<br>
<br>
We are experiencing another prison abuse as it happened in Iraq at the
Abugraib Prison where many Iraqis were physically, mentally and orally
abused. The whole world has seen the torture and abuses against
those prisoners. It was outrageous and made every human being sick
to their stomach.<br><br>
Friday, former prime minister Yvon Neptune was literally tortured and
beaten by the National Police in Haiti (APENA) when, at 4:00 a.m., he was
forced to go in SAINT-MARC wearing just a shirt, pants and sandals.
He was treated like any criminal.<br>
<br>
Former prime is being tortured right under UN watch. Mr. Neptune
has been on a complete hunger strike for 7 consecutive days. He
doesn't even have water that could help his body. What is the role
of the UN in Mr. Neptune slow death or murder? Is he being tortured
until he says enough is enough and finally decides to leave Haiti?
Or, are you waiting for a comatose condition of Mr. Neptune that will
ring the bell of your conscience and your theoretical stand "against
torture"?<br><br>
I hope you don't take that long to stop this type of torture being
applied upon prime minister Yvon Neptune.<br>
Louis Joinet from the UN, a strong and sharp critic of the Lavalas
Administration under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said on many
occasion that there was no massacre or genocide in La Scirie
(SAINT-MARC). <br><br>
He talked about fighting between a pro-Lavalas organization, "BALE
WOUZE," and a pro-opposition to Aristide's organization,
"RAMICOSM" whom president is the actual Mayor of SAINT-MARC Mr.
Thompson). It is obvious that this plot against Mr. Neptune and
many other officials from the Aristide government was orchestrated by a
Haitian organization financially supported by the Canadian Government
($100,000.00), the National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR),
according to Mr. Ronald Saint-Jean Human Rights Organization
"Groupe de Déffense des Prisoniers Politiques" (GDP) in
Haiti.<br><br>
In the name of humanity I urge that you act now to save Mr. Neptune's
life and the lives of many others in jail because of their political
opinion. You only have the power and the authority to put a stop to
the well prepared genocide againt the Haitian people in Haiti. Come
to the rescue of Mr. Neptune, Mr. Privert, Mrs. Auguste, Mr. Mayette, and
many others. I know you can and hope you will for the sake of
morality and fairness.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Edwige Romulus<br><br>
**************<br><br>
*******<br>
Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers' Leadership Network<br>
******<br><br>
"Men anpil chay pa lou" is Kreyol for - "Many hands
make light a heavy load."<br><br>
See, The Haitian Leadership Networks' 7 "Men Anpil Chay Pa
Lou" campaigns to help restore Haiti's independence, the will of the
mass electorate and the rule of law.<br>
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/law/lawpress.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/law/lawpress.html<br>
</a>*******************<br>
Here is what you can do to help us help the people of Haiti:<br>
***************<br>
Action Requested from Haiti solidarity groups and activists for justice
and democracy<br>
**********************<br><br>
Please circulate our mailings and posts to your mailing list and e-mail
contacts. Subscribe by writing to: Erzilidanto@yahoo.com<br><br>
Read, adopt and circulate the Haiti Resolution (see below) from the
Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network and/or the Porto Alegre Declarations
on Haiti adopted at the World Social Forum in 2005:
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/declaration.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/declaration.html<br><br>
</a>Circulate the human rights reports, especially the latest Miami Law
Center report:<br>
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/human_rights_reports/c1humanrightsreports.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/human_rights_reports/c1humanrightsreports.html<br>
<br>
</a>Do Press Work: Join our letter writing campaigns to help free the
political prisoners in Haiti, stop the persecution of Haiti's most
popular political party and restore Constitutional rule. Write a letter,
call the media, fax, - See our Press Work page for sample letters and
contact information:<br>
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/pressreleases_hll.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/pressreleases_hll.html<br>
<br>
</a>HLLN Networkers are urged, in addition to the general writing
campaigns and e-mail circulations, to also consider volunteering as
primary coordinators/contributors to one of our seven campaigns:
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html<br><br>
</a>Support our lawyers in Haiti and HLLN projects, such as, our
partnership with AUMOHD, the young human rights lawyers in Haiti who are
defending the defenseless poor whose only crime is that they voted for
Lavalas, supported Constitutional rule or are resisting a return of the
bloody U.S.-trained Haitian army and US-sponsored dictatorship. For
information on AUMOHD, go to:
<a href="http://www.april6vt.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.april6vt.org/<br>
</a>*********<br><br>
Support the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Haiti Resolution:<br><br>
1. Demand the return of constitutional rule to Haiti by restoring all
elected officials of all parties to their offices throughout the country
until the end of their mandates and another election is held, as mandated
by Haiti's Constitution;<br><br>
2. Condemn the killings, illegal imprisonment and confiscation of the
property of supporters of Haiti's constitutional government and insist
that Haiti's illegitimate "interim government" immediately
cease its persecution and put a stop to persecution by the thugs and
murderers from sectors in their police force, from the paramilitaries,
gangs and former soldiers;<br><br>
3. Insist on the immediate release of all political prisoners in Haitian
jails, including Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, Interior Minister Privert
and other constitutional government officials and folksinger-activist Sň
Ann;<br><br>
4. Insist on the disarmament of the thugs, death squad leaders and
convicted human rights violators and their prosecution for all crimes
committed during the attack on Haiti's elected government and support the
rebuilding of Haiti's police force, ensuring that it excludes
anyone who helped to overthrow the democratically elected government or
who participated in other human rights violations;<br><br>
5. Stop the indefinite detention and automatic repatriation of Haitian
refugees and immediately grant Temporary Protected Status to all Haitian
refugees presently in the United States until democracy is restored to
Haiti; and<br><br>
6. Support the calls by the OAS, CARICOM and the African Union for an
investigation into the circumstances of President Aristide's removal.
Support the enactment of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's T.R.U.T.H Act which
calls for U.S. Congressional investigation of the forcible removal of the
democratically elected President and government of Haiti.<br>
***************<br>
To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact Erzilidanto@yahoo.com<br>
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