22825: Esser: The Haiti Resolution presented during the DNC in Boston, July 27, 2004 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. E s s e r <torx@joimail.com>


The Haiti Resolution

Whereas, 2004 marks the 200th anniversary of Haiti's Independence and
abolition of colonialism and slavery, the only time in history that a
slave revolution achieved independence, and a milestone in the
history of humankind's struggle for rule by the people for the people;

Whereas, the United Nations has designated 2004 as the International
Year to commemorate the struggle against slavery and its abolition,
in recognition of the Haitian Revolution and the valiant struggle of
the Haitian people;

Whereas, in this 2004 year, while the Haitian people worldwide
proudly commemorate their ancestors' great victory against organized
tyranny in 1804, they are forced to continue struggling for justice
and democracy in Haiti, and against foreign occupation of their
sacred land, and must also continue to struggle for justice and equal
rights in the United States, where in practice, the Haitian people
are the only refugees fleeing political persecution to be
incarcerated and indefinitely detained in U.S. jails, even if they
have demonstrated a case for political asylum and even if a judge has
ordered their release;

Whereas, such a U.S. policy is a blatantly discriminatory and
racially biased policy;

Whereas, Haitian voters overwhelmingly elected President Aristide to
a five-year term ending in 2006 and the U.S. supported Latortue
regime came to power through force and through foreign interference
in Haiti's sovereignty and democratic process;

Whereas, the Bush Administration installed this unconstitutional
Latortue regime in Port-au-Prince that has systematically attacked
supporters and officials of the Constitutional government, and
allowed the paramilitary gangs led by drug dealers, rapists,
convicted murderers and members of Haiti's hated disbanded army to
terrorize the Haitian populace, and;

Whereas, this regime change affected not only Haiti's President, but
also led to the removal and replacement by un-elected persons of more
than 7,000 legislative and local officials, and the total
disenfranchisement of 8.5 million Black voters in Haiti that they
represented, as well as morally, culturally and psychologically
devastating and economically devaluing Haitians residing in the U.S.
and Haitian-American citizens in the U.S., who send nearly $1 billion
per year to Haiti;

Now therefore, the undersigned pro-democracy advocates hereby present
this Haiti Resolution to be included in the Democratic Party Platform:

Be it resolved, by the Congressional Black Caucus that the Democratic
Party shall adopt the following "6 Points Haiti Resolution" to its
Democratic platform and will:

1. Support the return of Constitutional rule to Haiti by restoring
all elected officials of aall parties to their offices throughout the
country until the end of their mandates and another election is held,
as mandated by Haiti's Constitution;

2. Condemn the killings, illegal imprisonment and confiscation of the
property of supporters of Haiti's Constitutional government, and
insist that Haiti's Illegitimate "interim government" immediately
cease its own persecution and put a stop to persecution by the thugs
and murderers from the paramilitary gangs;

3. Insist on the immediate release of all political prisoners in
Haitian jails, including Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, other
Constitutional government officials and folksinger/activist So Ann;

4. Insist on the disarmament of the thugs, death squad leaders, and
convicted human rights violators, and their prosecution for all
crimes committed during the attack on Haiti's elected government;
and, help rebuild Haiti's police force, ensuring that it excludes
anyone who helped to overthrow the democratically elected government
or who participated in other human rights violations;

5. Stop the indefinite detention and automatic repatriation of
Haitian refugees and immediately grant Temporary Protected Status to
all Haitian refugees presently in the United States until democracy
is restored to Haiti; and

6. Support the calls by the OAS, CARICOM and the Africa Union for an
investigation into the circumstances of President Aristide's removal;
and, enact Congresswoman Barbara Lee's T.R.U.T.H Act (HR 3919) which
calls for the investigation of the forcible removal of the
democratically elected President of Haiti.

Marguerite Laurent, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
Pierre Labosierre, Haiti Action Committee
Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, Fondasyon Trant Septanm
Alina Sixto, Ajoupa
Picard Losier, Radio Ayiti
Josue Renaud, The New England Human Rights Organization For Haiti
Jean Yvon Kernizan, Haitian Charities of America (HACHOFA)
Paul Mathieu, Organisation De Bienveillence National Haitienne (OBNH)
Louis Elneus, Haiti Lumiere
Jean Benoit, Asosiyasyon Chofe Taksi Ayisyen (ACT)
Lynn Currier, Haitkaah Social Justice Project
Steve Gillis, Boston A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition