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Advocacy & campaigns
Global: Solidarity with the People of Haiti!
Information about International Day in Solidarity with the People of Haiti
2007-01-11, Issue 285
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/39140
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The United Nations forces in Haiti (MINUSTAH) – backed to the hilt by the US, France and Canada – are continuing their bloody assault on the poor majority, targeting especially leaders and supporters of the Lavalas grassroots democracy movement.
From: Grassroots organisations in Haiti
Dear Activists for Haiti,
The United Nations forces in Haiti (MINUSTAH) – backed to the hilt by the US, France and Canada – are continuing their bloody assault on the poor majority, targeting especially leaders and supporters of the Lavalas grassroots democracy movement.
On December 22, 2006, some 400 UN troops conducted another day-long raid in Bois Neuf, Cite Soleil – an operation on the scale of the July 6, 2005 UN massacre in the same neighborhood – with many civilian residents dead and wounded. Since the "Christmas massacre", UN forces have repeatedly raided Cite Soleil shooting off their weapons.
In response, Fondasyon Trant Septanm, an 11-year-old organization of victims of the 1991 and 2004 coups d'etat in Haiti, has issued acall for renewed protests in many cities of the world on February
7, 2007.
This is the anniversary of the overthrow of the dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1986. Haiti will be demonstrating on that day – so should we!
The February 7th International Day is part of a campaign against the US/UN Occupation by the popular movement in Haiti, leading up to February 15th when the UN Security Council is due to renew its Haiti mandate.
We need to act now in solidarity with our Haitian sisters and brothers, whose unbreakable spirit, in the face of severe repression, just won’t stop.
Building on the international demonstrations for Haiti held on July 21 and September 30, 2005 The July 6th massacre by UN troops in Cite Soleil sparked an international campaign, culminating in a day of solidarity actions in 15 cities and five countries on July 21, 2005. The campaign succeeded in breaking through the media blockade, exposing the massacre.
This was followed by the first International Day in Solidarity with Haiti on September 30, 2005, when coordinated actions in 47 cities in 17 countries on 4 continents condemned the bloody US/UN occupation and demanded that Haiti's sovereignty and democracy be respected.
Today, violent repression continues against grassroots activists and communities – by UN forces and paramilitary death squads [like the Little Machete Army] created by the Haitian National Police. We're talking not only about killings, but sexual abuse, beatings, house burnings, arbitrary arrests, and the prolonged, illegal detention of people without any charges. UN forces have been repeatedly implicated in these activities.
Our call is for each city to organize its own Haiti solidarity activity on or around Wednesday, February 7, 2007 – to be coordinated as a single worldwide mobilization.
It could be a march, rally, public meeting, vigil, house meeting or civil disobedience – whatever you are able to do – in support of the following demands:
End the brutal US/UN Occupation – Respect Haiti’s sovereignty Stop the killings, sexual abuse and massacres of the poorby UN troops, police and paramilitaries under police control Free the political prisoners – No more illegal arrests & detentions President Aristide must be free to return to Haiti – Respect the Haitian Constitution Launch an independent inquiry into the February 29, 2004 coup and forced removal of President Aristide Perpetrators of the coup and massacres of the poor must be brought to justice – Reparations for the victims Join us in this important mobilization. Let us know by phone or email what solidarity activity you are organizing for on or around February 7th, so we can build the campaign. Use your contacts in other cities and countries to spread this movement.
For the February 7, 2007 International Day in Solidarity with the People of Haiti, Lavarice Gaudin, Veye Yo Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, Fondasyon Trant Septanm Margaret Prescod, Global Women's Strike Dave Welsh, US Labor/Human Rights Delegation to Haiti Contact the Feb. 7th Organizing Committee at 510-847-8657 or sub@sonic.net <mailto:sub@sonic.net> to add your name.
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The call for the February 7th International Day is supported by representatives of these grassroots organizations in Haiti:
+ Comite de Defense des Droits du Peuple Haitien (Committee in Defense of the Rights of the Haitian People)
+ Confederation des Travailleurs Haitiens (Confederation of Haitian Workers)
+ Femmes Victimes Debout (Women Victims Stand Up)
+ Collectif des Parents et Amis des Prisonniers Politiques (Collective of Relatives and Friends of Political Prisoners)
+ Coordination Nationale des Organisations de Droits Humains (National Coordination of Human Rights Organizations).
+ Fondasyon Trant Septanm (September 30th Foundation)