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29847: potemaksonje (news) Non-Violence in Cite Soleil (fwd)
From: Potemaksonje@yahoo.com
***Non-Violent Activism in Cite Soleil***
From AUMODH and HURAH
Hello Friends,
The 50mm machine gun confiscated on Dec. 22 by residents of Cité Soleil
from a disabled UN armored car was turned over peacefully to the UN Jan. 12 as
the people manifested for just treatment from the UN, no more military
incursions, reparation for the loss of life and damage of property resulting
from these incursions like the one on Dec. 22. This return of such a powerful
and frightening weapon was a real sign of a will among the people to work
non-violently toward a real peace with justice.
AUMOHD, our human rights partner, played a key role in this negotiation.
AUMOHD established a grass-roots group, the Cité Soleil Community Human Rights
Council (CHRC) several years ago out of the many victims of political
persecution, people jailed without arrests or trials, street kids piled up in
local jails, and so many other poor folk who don't have the means for any legal
representation. The Cité Soleil CHRC has gained more visibility now as a
peaceful, neutral, non-partisan force for advocating for human rights, and as a
result it has creating more hope for resolving conflicts, peacefully.
Such a grossly destructive machine doesn't have any place in any
residential neighborhood no matter what the nature of any alleged crime, but
certainly not in a densely populated area of very poor people. The UN
definitely has never introduced it in rich neighborhoods along with the other
warlike tactics we've seen in Cité Soleil.
Those who confiscated the machine gun could have destroyed it, or worse
still, could have used it in counterattacks, escalating the assault first
brought on by the UN. Notwithstanding the label of "bandit" given to those
targeted with such weapons, these people along with other residents of Cité
Soleil, with the support of AUMOHD, demonstrated a higher level of morality by
returning the machine gun at the same time as they continued to stake their
claims for justice in their land. Human rights groups like the CEDH and the
people of the Group of 184 have denounced the Préval administration for being
soft on criminals, for negotiating with them. While it remains to be seen
whether the targets of the recent UN/PNH hard action were indeed criminals and
whether blasting them away resulted in any real justice, we do have the return
of the machine gun by residents of the same community that was attacked so
violently as a concrete example of how conflicts can be resolved,
non-violently.
AUMOHD and Hurah are working on promoting a non-violent grouping of
individuals and organizations who can assist in the hard work of dealing with
violent conflicts. We have had a very positive meeting with a representative
of Prime Minister Alexis and we have pledged to help them pursue their agenda
of non-violent conflict resolution. We want to counteract the pressure they
are receiving as reported widely in the press. The individuals we met with
participated in the Raboteau trials and have the same vision for Haiti now.
They support a just resolution of the War by Proxy that has played itself out
so mercilessly in Grand Ravine.
In my second week here on the ground in Haiti I continue to find myself
surrounded by peace-loving, justice-seeking people. The Haiti I travel in is
safe, beautiful, and in spite of the poverty and persecution, worth a visit.
Sincerely,
Tom Luce
--
Tom Luce, President
Hurah, Inc. - Human Rights Accompaniment In Haiti
In Partnership with AUMOHD, a Haitian Human Rights Advocacy Group 900 US
Advocates
1515 Fairview St. Apt. 3
Berkeley, California 94703-2317
E-mail: hurah_inc@riseup.net
Web: http://www.hurah.revolt.org
Tel: 510-428-1419
Skype Name: tomluce / Skypeln # (510) 342-5696
To donate (tax exempt org 501(c)(3))
Joan Rae, Treasurer
P.O. Box 418
Fayston, Vt. 05673 or
PayPal (http://www.hurah.revolt.org/Hurah/Fundraising/paypal.html)
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