35 Cities have now joined the international call to protest the occuaption of Haiti. One of Haiti's largest and most progressive trade unions, the Confederation des Travailleurs Haitiens (Confederation of Haitian Workers), has joined the call to action. Please read the following press release and for information email David Welsh
Feb.7th Internat'l Day in Solidarity with
Haiti - A Call to Action
A Call to Action – Join the International Day in Solidarity with
the People of Haiti!
Coordinated International Protests
on February 7, 2007
*** End the Foreign Military Occupation of Haiti!
*** Stop the War against the People of Haiti!
*** Respect Haiti's Sovereignty!
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 a
call 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 poor by 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 to add your name.
=====
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)
Visit www.haitiaction.net for more information.
