21912: Charles: Haiti Briefing/Press Conference 5/18 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Eugenia Charles <eugenia@haitireborn.org>

MEDIA ADVISORY

RECENT DELEGATIONS TO HAITI CONDEMN THE COUP D’ETAT AND REPORT ON
WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
U.S. Troops in Haiti Take Part in the Campaign of Terror

WHO: Four delegations traveled to Haiti in the last twelve weeks since the
coup d’etat of February 29 to bear witness to the aftermath of a mordern
coup. Members of the observer teams condemn the violent overthrow of Haiti
democratically elected government. The participants and leaders will give
testimonies about the terror campaign gripping the country today. The
Quixote Center, the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the Ecumenical
Program on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA) led delegations to
Haiti. An International Labor/Religious/Community (ILRC) Delegation
returned most recently, the first week of May. The Quixote Center, NLG and
EPICA reports will release their reports and make them available. Speakers
will include Melinda Miles, Quixote Center; Nicole Lee, the Let Haiti
Live: Coalition for a Just U.S. Policy; Olivia Goumbri, EPICA; Tom
Griffin, NLG; Sharen Black and Reverend Dr. Kwame O. Abayomi, ILRC. This
event is co-sponsor by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Haiti for Change,
Haiti Action Committee; Partners in Health, Church World Service and
National Council of Churches of Christ.

WHAT: A Briefing and Press Conference on Capitol Hill, and the release of
the Quixote Center Emergency Haiti Observation Report, the EPICA People’s
Delegation Findings, International Labor/Religious/Community Delegation,
and the National Lawyers Guild Report.

WHERE: 2456 Rayburn Office Building, 4th Floor
	     Locates between Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street

WHEN: 10am – 11:00am, May 18, 2004 as part of the National Day of Action
for Haiti.

WHY: U.S. citizens traveled to Haiti to observe the situation after the
coup d’etat of Feburary 29 and discovered a dramatic increase in terror
and escalating human rights violations in Haiti. These systematic attacks
target mostly impoverished supporters of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, his Fanmi Lavalas party and democracy activists.

The United States led Multinational Interim Force (MIF) is not creating a
greater sense of security in Haiti. Disarming so-called “rebels”,
resurgent military and paramilitary is not part of the mission. The
disarmament missions are being carried out during the night in poor
neighborhoods known to be Lavalas strongholds. American helicopters
inspire fear while flying close to the ground without lights during the
night.

Reports that U.S. Marines have participated in the campaign to find,
arrest, and in some cases execute, members and supporters of Lavalas
deeply disturbed delegation members. The most recent report is that on the
night of May 10, U.S. Marines attacked the home of Annette August, an
elderly Lavalas supporter. They arrested all present, including four
children, and took them from the house with bags over their heads.
Witnesses at the scene the following day report widespread destruction of
the house, and the remnants of American explosives littering the exterior.

Quixote Center – P.O. Box 5206 – Hyattsville, MD – 20782 –
www.haitireborn.org - Eugenia@haitireborn.org - 301-699-3443 x110