News
and opinions on situation in Haiti |
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| 27/2/06 |
Demo Feb. 27 in Washington: HDP must be stopped | Message to Dobbins: Haiti not a US Colony, we are tired of benefactors and do-gooders | Lalane calls 5% of people in Site Soley exterminated! |
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Recommended Link: Listen to C-Span’s Haiti coverage; to HDP and Washington’s first use of Jacques Bernard the way they used zealots, Leon Manus and Pierre Paquiot to undermine Haiti’s elected government: www.usip.org/events/2006/0222_haiti.html Demonstration in DC to Support democracy in Haiti – HDP MUST be Stop – Letters from Haitians responding to James Dobbins’ Miami Herald, Feb. 26. 2006 article, “Give Haiti United Message From D.C.” 1. Note from COMEHARR addressing Dobbins: Haiti is not a US Colony 2. Haiti is tired of benefactors and do-gooders by Paul Choisil to Dobbins HLLN underlines and herein reiterates this statement to James Dobbins and US policy makers made by our own Paul Choisil in letter to James Dobbins: “Haiti needs help from other nations in order to improve and develop its potential. But those who will want to engage in that process must perceive it as a partnership that will be profitable to all, but not as donors and conquerors. Haiti is tired of benefactors and do-gooders. Haiti is asking for the respect it deserves, as a nation that has made its mark in history. This is why Haitians rose against all odds and all previsions and voted massively for a real change. Please read and acknowledge the message from the people of Haiti. Paul Choisil” (Letter from Paul Choisil to James Dobbins, Feb. 26, 2006) – Give Haiti United Message From D.C. by James Dobbins, Miami Herald, Feb. 26, 2006 | www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13953811.htm – Afro-Haitian Drum Ensemble classes with Master Drummer Frisner Augustin, Brooklyn NY (For the mind, body and spirit – The Sacred Sounds of Vodun) – Batay la fËk Komanse! – LËt Tevandlo Dife voye bay Zili – Edwige Lalane plaide pour l’Èlimination physique de 5% des “bandits” de CitÈ Soleil (Caonabo Kiskeya) – Responding to Edwige Lalane’s call for the summary execution/extermination of 5% of the population of Site Soley, Ezili Danto writes: “Only the poor majority are requested to forgive and forget, even as their demise are still being articulated and planned!” The Onus of forgiveness, decency, justice always is put on poor majority. Impunity of the coup plotters must stop. There must be consequences otherwise Haiti is doomed to face these folks, yet again, in another coup d’etat!” – BBC interview with President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Feb. 23, 2006 – Selective use of US visa, resources and jail – *************************** For Release On: ONE MAN, ONE VOTE! DEMONSTRATE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY IN HAITI Haiti Democracy Project AT IT AGAIN – This VIPER MUST BE STOPPED What: Jacques Bernard, the man who took the Haitian people’s vote hostage, in attempt to extort vote from leading candidate Rene Preval, will be the guest of the Haiti Democracy Project (HDP). HDP is an organization that uses U.S. tax payersí dollar to create an elite civil society in Haiti that wants to eliminate impoverished Haitians in order to build more factories, as well as lobbied in the U.S. to overthrow Haitiís elected government on February 29, 2004. WE ARE asking everyone who cares about democracy and the respect for human rights to join forces and demand that Haiti Democracy Project be held accountable before they kill more innocent Haitians. Where: 1779 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C in front of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The nearest metro station is Dupont Circle off the south exit walk pass the Sun Trust Bank. When: Monday, February 27, 2006 at 9:50am to 12:00 noon Who: Join Democracy for Haiti, Concerned Haitian Citizens of Washington DC Area and September 30th Foundation in saying NO HDP attempts to delegitimate the Haitian peopleës recent election. Why: On February 7, 2006, the Haitian people walked and waited in line for long hours to vote, sending a clear message to the international community that they are great electorate, in turn decide who will lead them. Soon after the May 2000 election, HDP started a campaign of destabilization with Leon Manus to seek regime change in Haiti. As a result, on February 29, 2004 Jean Bertrand Aristide then elected president of Haiti was kidnapped, at least 10, 000 people have been killed; over 1000 imprisoned with no chance of seeing a judge many more have been tortured or forced into exile. HDP is starting yet, another campaign of destabilization to destroy any democratic effort made in Haiti by inviting Jacques Bernard to repeat what HDP did with Leon Manus. As the Haitian people wait patiently for their newly elected president to be inaugurated and considering the upcoming second round of parliamentary election, it is imperative that HDP and Jacques Bernard keep their hands off Haiti’s democratic process in order to prevent more bloodshed. *************************** -------- Original Message -------- Mr Dobbins, Referring to your article: “GIVE HAITI UNITED MESSAGE FROM D.C”, This role contributed greatly in creating the dismal political crisis that Haiti has endured during the past two years. Hopefully, with the newly elected government of President Preval, we will see the conclusion of this crisis, In the name of Democracy, there was a “regime change” removing the choice of the Haitian people because that choice did not concur with that of the powers that be. The choice of those powers was specifically what the Haitian people, time and again, rejected overwhelmingly; because it reverted to the system that operated until 1986, when that same people decided it had enough. While denying the basic rights of the people to Justice, Education, Health, fair wages and the pursuit of Happiness; that system benefited the small, repugnant minority of that country because their interests coincided with those advocating the current neo-liberalist policies of the United States of America. Now that, once again, the Haitian people rose peacefully but decisively to claim their legitimate rights, they have signaled unequivocally that they want to take the lead in their own development. By their vote they have rejected the policies designed for them, by Washington, and have thwarted the plans that were put in place to legitimize the regime change. How the new democratic government chooses to implement its programs must be up to the people, in the interest of Haiti and its majority. The American ambassador, in Haiti, should refrain from advancing policies that would be interfering with the way the government is run nor should he encourage an opposition which has been rejected by the population to, again, destabilize Democracy. Remember that this government has a clear mandate to accomplish its reconstruction and development plans. Haiti needs help from other nations in order to improve and develop its potential. But those who will want to engage in that process must perceive it as a partnership that will be profitable to all, but not as donors and conquerors. Haiti is tired of benefactors and do-gooders. Haiti is asking for the respect it deserves, as a nation that has made its mark in history. This is why Haitians rose against all odds and all previsions and voted massively for a real change. Please read and acknowledge the message from the people of Haiti. Paul Choisil **** Always the same refrain, it seems that this writer as well as all the zealots, are talking as if Haiti is some colony or possession of the United States. This article is condoning the State Department’s position that Aristide, a Haitian citizen, should stay away from Haiti after the United States has repeatedly but to no avail denied that they had anything to do with his forced departure. The following (James Dobbin’s) article should give pause to all Haitians. It is as if Haiti is a U.S. colony for James Dobbins condones the State Department position that Aristide, a non US citizen, should not return to Haiti. The United States, for the past two years, has repeatedly denied that they had anything to do with Aristide forced departure in February 2004. So who gave them the right to decide which Haitian can go or not to Haiti? Does the State Department supersede our own constitution which is very clear about our rights to travel and return as we please? Does the United States want Preval to violate Haiti’s constitution? These so called experts can not fool us nine years away from the first one hundredth anniversary of their first occupation of Haiti. We will construct our own future and we strongly reject this fable of new era in US Haitian relations when James Dobbins implicitly recognized the “rights” of the US ambassador to develop policies in Haiti. Posted on Sun, Feb. 26, 2006 Give Haiti united message from D.C. BY JAMES DOBBINS For more than a decade, Washington has been bitterly divided on policy toward Haiti. In 1994 the Clinton administration, over virulent Republican opposition, sent U.S. troops into Haiti to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. In 2004, in a move condemned by Democrats, the Bush administration spirited Aristide out of Haiti and sent U.S. troops back into that country in support of the regime that had overthrown him. During the intervening 10 years, mixed signals from Washington consistently exacerbated Haiti’s endemic political divisions. The New York Times recently revealed one such episode, in which representatives of the federally funded International Republican Institute conducted activities in Haiti that, in the view of the U.S. ambassador at the time, undercut his efforts to promote reconciliation between Aristide and his domestic critics. Whatever the truth, the widespread impression was created in Port-au-Prince that influential voices in Washington opposed reconciliation and wished to see a premature end to the Aristide presidency. This month’s election in Haiti may finally have broken this pattern. RenÈ PrÈval, who served as Aristide’s first prime minister in 1991 and who is still known in Haiti as Aristide’s ‘’twin,’’ was declared the winner on Feb. 16 after a retabulation of the vote. The Bush administration, which would almost certainly have preferred a different outcome, nevertheless persevered in seeking to keep the electoral process on track to deal responsibly with the many charges of massive fraud and to promote an outcome that recognizes the clear choice of the Haitian people. Assuming that PrÈval ultimately gets the clear backing of a conservative Republican administration in Washington, the divisive and debilitating American debate on policy toward Haiti might finally be brought to a close. U.S. should take the lead It is easy enough to see the basis for a bipartisan accord on Haiti. Aristide is gone, and should stay that way. Representing the same constituency of impoverished, uneducated, desperate Haitians, PrÈval has emerged and won a clear political mandate. U.N. peacekeepers will need to remain for years to come as Haiti builds new institutions for public security and the rule of law. The United States, as Haiti’s near neighbor, should take the lead in helping to build those institutions and in alleviating the poverty of its long-suffering population. PrÈval should be encouraged to be inclusive in his choice of cabinet and advisors. Opposition leaders should be encouraged to recognize and accept the election outcome and to work with the new government. No one in Washington should back dissident elements in Haiti that seek to challenge the results. No federally funded voices in Port-au-Prince should undercut policies being advanced by the American ambassador. The durability of any such American accord will, of course, depend heavily on how PrÈval handles his new responsibilities. During his last term of office from 1996 to 2001, American officials found PrÈval to be personally honest, accessible and willing to act against abuses in his own regime, but rather undynamic and unwilling to press forward with necessary economic reforms. Without Aristide at his elbow, PrÈval may prove more decisive this time around. Much responsibility for the lost opportunities of that earlier period also rests with the opposition parties that then controlled the Haitian Parliament and which were unwilling to pass the measures need to qualify for billions of dollars in international assistance. The Haitian Parliament that emerges from this most recent election may well be dominated by those same opposition figures. Only a united message from both sides of the aisle in Washington has any hope of getting the various Haitian factions to work together for the good of that country. The early call made by President Bush to PrÈval, congratulating him on his victory and urging him to build an inclusive government, could signal a new era in U.S. Haitian relations. James Dobbins was the Clinton administration’s special envoy for Haiti from 1994 to 1996. He heads the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. © 2006 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. ************** Afro-Haitian Drum Ensemble Classes Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza A or C train to Nostrand Avenue $10/class Information: 718-953-6638, makandal@verizon.net This class receives partial support from the National Endowment for the Arts **************** Batay la fËk Komanse! – LËt Tevandlo Dife voye bay Zili The struggle has only just begun! – Letter to Ezili’s Haitian Lawyers Leadership from Tevandlo Dife Forwarded Mail Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 13:30:19 -0500 (EST) * Suis-je le seul ‡ Ítre outrÈ par cette dÈclaration d’un des desperados prÈferÈs de Haiti Democracy Project? www.haitipolicy.org/content/1470.htm?PHPSESSID=405bbab8195417337c27ce656d39e4c9 J’ai envoyÈ hier, en piËce jointe un extrait sonore de cette dÈclaration et n’en ai pas eu d’Ècho. Cette dÈclaration peut Ítre entendue, probablement jusqu’‡ demain, sur le lien suivant de SignalFM: rtsp://lsh112.siteprotect.com:1554/signalfmhaiti//invitedujour.rm J’en ai fait une copie pour mes archives et en ai fait un extrait de 3 minutes et 8 secondes que je vous renvoie au cas o vous vous en seriez dÈbarrassÈs Et puisque mon premier message ne semble pas avoir attirÈ votre attention, je vous inclus, ‡ la fin de ce courriel, une partie de la transcription des propos de l’ambassadeur dont la virulence ne semble pas avoir ÈtÈ bien transfÈrÈe ni dans le titre ni dans le texte du rÈsumÈ publiÈ sur le site de SignalFM www.signalfmhaiti.com/signal_news7fev2406.htm “Monsieur PrÈval, ‡ partir de ses dÈclarations, Èpouse la mÍme idÈologie, le mÍme comportement de la Minustah, et je le comprends trËs bien, parce que sa base populaire se trouve dans ces rÈgions l‡, il ne peut dire autrement. Mais nous autres de la sociÈtÈ civile, de la sociÈtÈ nationale, qui avons subi les mauvais traitements, les actes de kidnapping, díassassinats, de viols, qui venaient particuliËrement ‡ partir de .., qui venaient de ces rÈgions, nous nous prononÁons autrement. Cíest ‡ dire, je pense, dans ces rÈgions, quíil y a vraiment de la misËre, quíil faut amÈliorer la condition du euh euh, des gens qui vivent dans ces rÈgions, mais il y a aussi des bandits qui sont irrÈductibles, irrÈcupÈrables. Il y en a parmi eux qui doivent Ítre naturellement, je le dis sincËrement et je prends ma responsabilitÈ, physiquement ÈliminÈs. Il y en a díautres qui sont rÈcupÈrables, vous voyez. Cíest le point de vue díun prÈsident Èlu, je comprends sa position, mais je vous dis, moi, en tant que citoyen HaÔtien, jíai une autre lecture de la situation parce que si, maintenant, on est en train de tergiverser sur la situation, cette situation dÈpassera mÍme la gouvernance de M. PrÈval. “a je vous en donne la garantie. Parce que il y a des bandits irrÈductibles dans la rÈgion, je ne vous parle mÍme pas de la justice, je pense que 5%, au moins, doivent Ítre physiquement ÈliminÈs” ***************** www.haitiforever.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14346#14346 Only the poor majority are requested to forgive and forget, even as their demise are still being articulated and planned! The point is, it seems, that it is only when the time comes for the coup d’etat sectors to face justice, after a long fought battle has been won, by the people that arguments of “let’s forgive and forget” comes into play. For two years now the repression by the tiny wealthy sector and their foreign supporters (UN troops, France, Canada, US) of the poor majority has been without peer. Over 10,000 Haitians killed, massacred, summarily executed. 1,000 prisoners warehoused. But still Apaid, Boulos, Baker want more summary executions. On the Haiti Democracy Project website their protÈgÈ Lalane, who clamors for the – “l’Èlimination physique de 5% des “bandits” de CitÈ Soleil..” – the physical extermination of 5% of the people of Site Soley, is part of the Haiti face to protectorate plans. See, “Haiti Issue Should Be Turned Over to the U.N. “ www.haitipolicy.org/content/1470.htm?PHPSESSID=405bbab8195417337c27ce656d39e4c9 Latortue once said at least 25,000 in the poor neighborhoods must be outright executed in order to assure “pacification”. Is this a moral, legal and thinkable SOLUTION. What allows anyone to feel safe enough to make such statements? Why is the onus always on the poor majority to shoulder these fools, counter their murderous rampages and coup d’etats, and then suffer they and their international friends, claims for “unity” and “let’s forgive and forget” such terror, repressions, criminal incitements and behaviors? The amazing John Maxwell, Jamaica’s modern day Boukman, states the correct position well: Quote: “In a well ordered world, Gerard LaTortue should now be sitting quietly in a jail in the Hague, preparing to defend himself against charges of treason, terrorism, murder, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution and, possibly, genocide Instead, on Wednesday this week, he was sitting, immaculately tailored, as always, in a conference room at United Nations headquarters, as the Assistant Secretary general of the OAS vainly attempted to give a decent burial to US government policies in Haiti.” (See, John Maxwell’s “A Basket to carry water “ https://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/ezilidanto/2006-02/msg00025.html ) As lawyers – US/UN protectorate, the blanket criminalization of poor Black men in Haiti, summary executions arranged by the suited and “educated” perpetrators of corruption, massacres, and repressions – is what HLLN has been defending against for two years straight. Everyone, even suspected criminals, in a society aspiring to be governed by laws and not vengeance, must face a court of law for their alleged crimes. Summary execution is NOT acceptable, either for the coup plotters or the coup resisters. Pwen. Pa vigul. Quote: “www.signalfmhaiti.com/signal_news7fev2406.htm [24 FÈvrier 06, 07h00 AM] Un diplomate haÔtien prÈsente Aristide comme un colis embarrassant. Le diplomate Edwige Lalane n’ajoute aucune fois au propos de l’ancien prÈsident haÔtien affirmant qu’il n’avait pas l’intention de revenir en HaÔti pour y faire de la politique. Monsieur Aristide constitue un colis encombrant selon le professeur de droit international qui croit que seule la CommunautÈ Internationale peut dÈcider du retour ou non d’Aristide en HaÔti. Plus loin, monsieur Lalane estime qu’un retour de l’ancien prÈsident causerait du tort et ‡ RenÈ PrÈval et ‡ la CommunautÈ Internationale. ConsidÈrant les dÈclarations de RenÈ Garcia PrÈval relatives ‡ la situation d’insÈcuritÈ ‡ CitÈ Soleil, l’ambassadeur Edwige Lalane y voit le discours d’un chef d’Etat qui veut mÈnager la chËvre et le chou. De l’avis du diplomate, la rÈponse ‡ l’action des bandits doit Ítre musclÈe. Edwige Lalane plaide pour l’Èlimination physique de certains bandits irrÈsistibles. De l’avis de l’ambassadeur Edwige Lalane, le prÈsident Èlu RenÈ PrÈval a fait montre de beaucoup de dextÈritÈ et de sagesse dans sa premiËre confÈrence de presse depuis son Èlection. Monsieur Lalane affirme que monsieur PrÈval a ÈtÈ honnÍte dans ses rÈponses pour n’avoir fait aucune promesse au peuple haÔtien.” ** Please consider this Edwige Lalane’s view, apparently supported by Haiti Democracy Project: www.haitipolicy.org/content/1470.htm?PHPSESSID=405bbab8195417337c27ce656d39e4c9 Is this a “Haitian solution”, or the morally repugnant, power-grabbing traditional bourgeoisie, IRI – USAID- Haiti Democracy Project solution. Should this sort of “justice” continue – Do we, by playing ostrich, so “we all get along” wait until these folks re-emerge, once again, a few years from now under another name? Fad’h and FRAPH turn into todays “police.” Convergence turned to Group 184 will now be re-imaged and restructures as…? what next? Isn’t it time for law-abiding Haitians to take this face on? Work at eliminating the absolute reign of impunity that one tiny, fringe, but bloody sector, of the Haitian family imposes, with the help of these powerful foreigners, on our Haitian nation? Does Edwige Lalane and his supporters at HDP (along with Apaid, Boulos, Baker, Bernard, Lucas, Guy Phillipe…et al) speak for the majority or fringe elements in Haiti? Ezili Danto PS: One of HLLN’s tasks is to inform and educate. We would recommend that one and all consider listening to Jacques Bernard first appearance after he fled Haiti amidst accusations of fraud and corruption. To listen to HDP and Washington’s first use of Jacques Bernard the way they used Leon Manus and Pierre Paquiot to undermine Haiti’s elected government go to: C-Span’s coverage and the current articulation of the Bush party line, as articulated by “Institute of Peace” Roger Noriega/Jacques Bernard/ Haiti Democracy Project. Mark Schneider is the ambiguous wild card, many say, brings forth the “human rights” perspective while, at the same time, pushing HDP’s line that more US troops should be on the ground. Many Haitian justice and peace observers see this Schneider line, as an articulation of HDP’s frustration with the Brazilians who have refuse to carry out the massive Apaid/Boulos/HDP sort of killings desired in the popular neighborhood. www.usip.org/events/audio/2006/haiti.mp3 The program is long, but our folks got to face these people during the answer and question sessions. It’s worth waiting to hear our folks!!!! Two interesting points made on this panel of great interest to the pro-democracy activists interested in the due application of laws and justice in Haiti: Jacques Bernard says he knows which polling stations the burnt ballots came from; Most critical though is the announcement that the second round for the Legislative elections will be postponed and Preval won’t be installed until then, this could be not until end of April? The masters have spoken. Haitian questions, of course, abound…!!! How long are we to be saddled with the “interim government?” The battle has just begun ñ Batay la fËk komanse! The onus of forgiveness, decency, justice always is put on poor majority. Impunity of the coup plotters must stop. There must be consequences otherwise Haiti is doomed to face these folks, yet again, in another coup d’etat. This time, against President Preval! ***************** Interview du PrÈsident Jean-Bertrand Aristide President Jean Bertrand Aristide When they voted again for our return, they wanted to have their dignity restored. Secondly, in our flag, it is well written: “L¥Union fait la force” the more we are united, the stronger we can be… We should not hear to people trying to divide the Haitian people but paying attention to the necessity of having rich, poor, government, civil society, Haitians living in the Diaspora, Haitians living in Haiti all united. BBC reporter Jean-Bertrand Aristide: BBC reporter: So you’ say very clearly “I am no longer president. Support RenÈ PrÈval.” Jean-Bertrand Aristide: It is so clear! BBC reporter: Jean-Bertrand Aristide: If we don’t respect them, we should not expect them to respect us, because we respect them, we expect them to respect us. And respecting the Haitian people means respecting the rights and the Constitution of the Haitian people. Article 41 of the Constitution does not accept exile. BBC reporter: JBA: It’s true what he said. One percent of the population of Haiti controls 51 % of the wealth and the huge majority are living with less than 1 $ a day. So we need to build not walls but bridges of solidarity and dialogue of unity between rich and poor, government and civil society in order to promote that human growth linked to economic growth BBC: JBA: BBC: JBA: BBC: JBA: **************** Selective use of US visa, resources and jail undermines Haitian development and democracy US Embassy’s Tim Carney, formerly of HDP selectively and, in a racist manner, uses US federal power to undermine the institutionalization of Haitian laws, justice and democracy. Thus, it granted a US visa, used resources such as arranging a “special flight” out of Haiti and no jail cell awaited Bernard – the Department of Homeland Security did not put Bernard in indefinite detention or hold him at Krome when he got to Miami International Airport. The Jacques Bernard case illustrates how US Embassy in Haiti, which oftentimes says it “cannot meddle in the domestic matters of a foreign” country when asked to put pressure to, for instance, get the release of the political prisoners, such as Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, So Ann, Jacques Mathelier, et al., just used its federal powers without these concerns to fly Jacques Bernard out of Haiti. Jacques Bernard has been accused of massive fraud in the Feb. 7, elections. But he is currently in Washington doing the bidding of HDP and the US State Department. At least one newspaper has already quoted Jacques Bernard as saying that, Preval, “the president-elect and others manipulated ballot counting changes.” (See, “Top election official backs original count: The leader of Haiti’s electoral council surfaced in Washington and said the president elect and others manipulated ballot counting changes” by Pablo Bachelet, The Miami Herald, February 23, 2006 ) Others in Washington are saying that Preval used street riots and demonstrations to force the international community to declare him President. Yet, anyone watching the Feb. 23, 2006 C-Span 2 appearance of Bernard would have heard him say that Preval was in Marmelade when the people took to the streets of Port-au-Prince. However, this doesn’t stop the mainstream press from issuing its negative mantras to undermine Preval’s presidency before it even begins. The Jacques Bernard case illustrates, how the US plays a corrupting, not democratic role in Haiti. How the US Embassy uses visas, tax-payer resources, and indefinite detention, whether in Haiti as with the US-supported Latortue government’s warehousing of Lavalas officials and supporters, or, in Miami where the fleeing Haitian refugees are indefinitely detained at the Krome detention center, to undermine Haitian law, justice and democracy. It appears the US Embassy in Haiti has no QUALMS about “interfering in Haiti’s domestic affairsî if it will benefit and promote US interest in destroying the Lavalas peace and justice movement. Thus, a special granting of a US visa, resources such as arranging a “special flight” out of Haiti and no jail for Bernard – the Department of Homeland Security did not put Bernard in indefinite detention or hold him at Krome when he got to Miami International Airport. The granting, by Tim Carney’s US Embassy, of either some exile status such as a visiting visa, asylum or Temporary Protected Status, by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Jacques Bernard gives evidence of how the US uses its resources (special flight arranged for Jacques Bernard when no such thing has ever been arranged say, for the ailing Yvon Neptune), jailing (homeland security did not put him at Krome pending Haitian justice investigation but allowed him some sort of a visa and exile status). Now he’s in Washington to address a Haiti Democracy Project seminar and on C-Span panels replacing Roger Noreiga! American Airlines stopped all their fights. MINUSTHA had control of the airport. But Jacques Bernard was able to get a “special flight” out of Haiti. HLLN has always maintained that the US Embassy abuses federal power by using its visa granting abilities to deny Haitian justice and by using jail to undermine Haitian democracy. This case with Bernard underscores and gives evidences to these US Embassy abuses. The wealthy, light-skinned and multi-passported Jacques Bernard, accused of massive fraud in the Feb. 7, 2006 elections was authorized to leave Haiti, his visa approved by the US Embassy and he was even put on a special US-arranged (Tim Carney of HDP) flight out of Haiti. When he got to Miami, unlike, for instance, Joseph Dandica, the elderly and sick 81-year old Baptist Minister, whose Church roof top the UN had used to execute, reportedly 15 and wound 6 “gang” members , Homeland Security could not be bothered to give TPS to Dandica. On the other hand, the fleeing-from-Haitian-law-and-justice Jacques Bernard was welcomed to Miami by Homeland Security, was not sent to jail at Krome as most poor Haitian refugees are, to die there as was the case for Reverend Joseph Dantica on November 3, 2004. (See, U.S. Bias and Indefinite Detention Policy Increases Haitian Suffering & Grief by Marguerite Laurent, November 16, 2004 www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/indefinite.html ) This illustrate the cavalier, callous and outrageous disdain the US Ambassador, Department Homeland Security and Washington holds the ordinarily poor and dark-skinned Haitians, who mostly are warehoused at Krome. Poor Haitians, who cannot be used by Haiti Democracy Project, DHS or Washington to further their Death Plan in Haiti are simply subject to lengthy detention in the US and singled out by the US government for harsh treatment. Poor Haitians without Jacques Bernard’s powerful Washington friends don’t get to circumvent the laws or even get to be afforded due process and equal application of the immigration laws. In fact, to be poor, dark-skinned and Haitian means you will have the lowest rate of approval on asylum applications to the US. HLLN urges its entire network to formally write a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (copied to the US Embassy in Haiti, Condi Rice and the State Department) to demand a full investigation into the granting of special visa privileges to Jacques Bernard, who stands accused of massive electoral fraud. HLLN rejects this use of US immigration laws to undermine the institutionalization of the rule of law in Haiti. Marguerite Laurent, Esq. ******************************* Recommended Link: Listen to C-Span’s Haiti coverage; to HDP and Washington’s first use of Jacques Bernard the way they used zealots, Leon Manus and Pierre Paquiot to undermine Haiti’s elected government: www.usip.org/events/2006/0222_haiti.html To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: erzilidanto@yahoo.com |
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