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Maxine
Waters on Haiti
Letter to
Colin Powell on Thugs and Killers
July 1, 2004
The Honorable
Colin Powell
Secretary of
State
Department of
State
2201 C Street,
NW, Room 7261
Washington, DC
20520
Dear Secretary Powell:
I write to express my
deepest concern that the interim government of Haiti is pursuing
a politically-motivated campaign to arrest and intimidate
Lavalas party members and supporters in Haiti.
Several high-ranking
members of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government, who
were also members of the Lavalas party, have been arrested, and
many others have gone into hiding out of fear for their lives
since President Aristide's removal.
Yvon Neptune, the prime minister of Haiti under President
Aristide and a Lavalas party member, was arrested by Haitian
police last Sunday, June 27, 2004.
Other Lavalas officials who have been detained since
President Aristide's removal include Jocelerme Privert,
President Aristide's interior minister, who was arrested on
April 6, 2004.
The arrest of Anne Auguste
(So Anne) appears to be another example of the efforts of the
Haitian interim government to persecute Lavalas supporters.
As you know, Anne Auguste
was arrested on May 10, 2004, by U.S. soldiers, acting as part
of the Multinational Interim Force (MIF), pursuant to a warrant
issued by Haitian police. Anne Auguste is a Lavalas supporter and a well-known
community activist who is responsible for feeding many
impoverished people and who possesses a long history of working
to improve the lives of ordinary Haitians.
While the interim
government continues to arrest and intimidate Lavalas party
members, it refuses to arrest Guy Philippe, Jean Tatoune and
other thugs and killers who took over Haitian cities, burned
buildings and freed criminals from jails prior to the coup
d'etat and who continue to terrorize local residents.
Furthermore, while former death squad leader
Louis-Jodel Chamblain faked
his surrender and is supposedly in the custody of Haitian
authorities, there are numerous reports that he has been seen
drinking and socializing outside of detention.
In addition, it is rumored that he cut a deal, in which
it was agreed that he will neither be incarcerated for the
crimes for which he has already been convicted in absentia nor
prosecuted for other crimes.
Meanwhile, human rights
violations have become commonplace since President Aristide's
removal. Members
and supporters of Lavalas have been found shot in the head with
their hands tied behind their backs.
There are also reports of Lavalas members being placed in
a container and drowned at sea.
Delegations from Amnesty International, the National
Lawyers Guild and Let Haiti Live have documented widespread
killings of Haitians who are believed to be Lavalas supporters.
None of these crimes have been investigated or prosecuted
by the interim government of Haiti.
The efforts of the interim
government to arrest Lavalas supporters, combined with its
refusal to arrest known criminals who oppose President Aristide
or investigate crimes against Lavalas supporters, is having a
profound impact on Haiti's future.
Impoverished Haitians, who form the basis of the Lavalas
party's support, are losing faith in the democratic system. Those who still believe in democracy are nevertheless afraid
to participate in the political process.
Many are already in hiding, and many others may attempt
to flee Haiti and enter the United States as refugees.
I implore you to call for
the release of Yvon Neptune, Jocelerme Privert and Anne Auguste,
and use all available means to persuade the Haitian interim
government to consent to their releases.
I also urge you to take all necessary and appropriate
action to end the persecution and intimidation of Lavalas party
members and supporters in Haiti and ensure their safety.
Finally, I urge you to
demand that the interim government of Haiti arrest and prosecute
the thugs and killers who are responsible for so much
destruction and devastation in Haiti.
Please give this urgent matter your
immediate attention. I
look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Maxine Waters
Member
of Congress
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update 23 May
2009 |
