<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-forward-container">
<div dir="ltr">
<p>HAITI ACTION COMMITTEE URGENT ACTION ALERT</p>
<p>SUPPORT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN HAITI<br>
STOP THE ATTACKS ON FANMI LAVALAS</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>* Condemn the armed attack on the offices of Dr. Maryse
Narcisse and the continued attacks against the Lavalas
movement.</p>
<p>* Denounce the continued interference and threats from the
State Department and the European Union. They are attacks on
Haitian sovereignty and self-determination.</p>
<p>* Support the right of the Haitian people to choose their own
government through transparent, free and fair elections.</p>
<p>CALL SECRETARY KERRY’S OFFICE AT: 202-647-9572<br>
· GO TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AND WRITE HIM <br>
AT: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform">https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform</a></p>
<p>CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS: (+1) 202-224-3121</p>
<div>For more information, contact Haiti Action Committee at:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.haitisolidarity.net">www.haitisolidarity.net</a>
or visit our Facebook page<br>
You can also email us at: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:action.haiti@gmail.com">action.haiti@gmail.com</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.freedomarchives.org">www.freedomarchives.org</a>
</div>
</body>
</html>