19833: White: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Bill Establishing Independent Commission (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>


NEWS from CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE

9th District, California

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2004

Contact: Stuart Chapman 202-225-2398

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Condemns Bush Haiti Policy at Press Conference

Announces Bill Establishing Independent Commission


Washington, DC - At "Uncovering the Bush Administration's Haiti
Policy," a press conference sponsored by the Let Haiti Live Coalition
and featuring United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover,
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement:

"Today, I'm happy to stand in solidarity with over 30 grassroots
Haitian activist groups working in the Let Haiti Live Coalition.
Today we stand in complete support of the people of Haiti and their
desperate need for the restoration of democracy.  As Members of
Congress find out more about the events leading up to President
Aristide's departure, the twilight activities of his alleged
resignation, and the turmoil, fear, and misinformation that is still
spreading, we want real answers."

"Congressman John Conyers and I have called for an independent
commission that would consider the Administration's involvement with
Haitian opposition groups; the Administration's efforts to
destabilize Haiti by cutting all bilateral assistance and blocking
international loans and support from the international financial
institutions; and the Administration's efforts and involvement in
blocking immediate security intervention forces from the United
Nations."

  "We do not teach people to overthrow our US government, and the Bush
Administration must not participate in the overthrow of other
democratically-elected governments.  The United States must stand
firm in its support of democracy and not allow a nascent democracy
like Haiti to fall victim to the Bush Administration's apparent
policy of regime change."



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