Congresswoman Maxine Waters 

Letter to Colin Powell on Repression in Haiti

April 1, 2004

The Honorable Colin Powell

Secretary of State

Department of State

2201 C Street, NW, Room 7261

Washington, DC  20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

         We write to urge you to provide all necessary personal protection, and safe passage out of Haiti should they choose to leave, to Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and other Lavalas Party officials whose lives are being threatened in Haiti.

         Prime Minister Neptune had his home burned down during last month's uprising.  Because of the substantial risks to his life, he went into hiding on March 10, 2004, after his successor, Gerard Latortue, took office.  Since that time, Prime Minister Neptune has been moving secretly from one friend's house to another.  He also recently learned that his name is on a list of Lavalas Party officials whom the thugs are targeting for murder.

         As you know, many of the thugs who were involved in the mayhem and criminal activities that led to the departure of President Aristide, including Guy Philippe, Louis-Jodel Chamblain and Jean-Pierre Baptiste, have a long history of killing Lavalas Party supporters.  There is substantial evidence to indicate that the lives of Lavalas Party officials are in danger if they do not receive immediate protection by U.S. and multinational forces.

         We implore you to act immediately to do whatever is required to protect Prime Minister Neptune and other Lavalas Party officials whose lives are being threatened and provide them with safe passage out of Haiti if they choose to leave.

Sincerely,

Maxine Waters

Jan Schakowsky

John Conyers

Donald Payne

Diane E. Watson

Barbara Lee

Donna M. Christensen

Corrine Brown

Ed Towns

Raul Grijalva

Major Owens

Charles Rangel

Sheila Jackson-Lee

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Congresswoman Maxine Waters is Co-Chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and the House Committee on Financial Services. Following the 2000 U.S. presidential election fiasco, Congresswoman Waters was named Chair of the Democratic Caucus Special Committee on Electoral Reform. 

Prior to being elected to the United States Congress in 1990, Congresswoman Waters served in the California State Assembly for 14 years, where she rose to the powerful post of Democratic Caucus Chair. She has been a key leader in the presidential races of Edward Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, and Bill Clinton. She was a leader in the anti-apartheid movement in the United States, was a key figure in Congressional efforts to restore democracy to Haiti in 1994, and continues to be a no-holds barred voice for justice and democracy at home and abroad.