Weekly London vigils for the return of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

Lovinsky

Aristide

VIGIL every Wednesday at Brazilian Embassy, 32 Green St, WC1

Two years since the disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine
HAITI, HONDURAS – OCCUPATION IS THE CRIME

Return Lovinsky - Return Aristide - Return Zelaya
It is two years since human rights advocate Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine was kidnapped in Haiti. We are with the people of Haiti who have been living under occupation since their elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced into exile in 2004 by a military coup, and the people of Honduras whose president Manuel Zelaya was removed by a coup in June 2009.

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is coordinator of Fondasyon 30 Septanm for survivors of the military coups against Aristide, and an advocate for those with least, starting with women and street children. He was kidnapped on August 12, 2007, two weeks after announcing he would run for the Haitian Senate. The grassroots in Haiti hold weekly vigils demanding his return and the return of Aristide who was forced into exile in 2004 by a Bush administration military coup backed by Canada and France. Latin American governments have rightly condemned the recent coup in Honduras and have been working for the return of President Jose Manuel Zelaya, but in contrast, they have collaborated with the occupation of Haiti.

The recent Summit of the Americas offered the possibility of a respectful relationship between the US and Latin America, and President Obama declared the coup against Zelaya “illegal”. But the US State Department headed by Hilary Clinton has not. They said it was worth teaching a lesson to those who got too close to Venezuelan President Chavez. Zelaya had been working with Chavez to bring Latin American countries together so they are no longer the backyard of the US. Commenting on the coup in Honduras, Chávez said, “Obama is a prisoner of the Empire.” Argentina’s president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner referred to “interests that may want to change the direction” started at the Summit of the Americas. Is Honduras a US military coup not only against Zelaya but Obama too?

Meanwhile, UN occupying forces in Haiti continue to be headed by Brazil and include troops from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay. Only Caricom (a grouping of the English-speaking Caribbean, Suriname and Haiti) and Venezuela have spoken out; Cuba continues to provide doctors to Haiti.

President Aristide, a liberation theology priest witha 91.8% mandate (2000 election), was removed because he fought to eliminate poverty. His policies angered the Haitian elite and the US which profit from sweatshops, privatization and the import of rice which has destroyed the local agriculture and contributed to starvation. Like Zelaya in Honduras and Chávez in Venezuela (who also faced a coup in 2002), Aristide increased the minimum wage, and invested in food security, health and education.

Now, former US President Bill Clinton is pushing US policy to expand sweatshops under the guise of global investments – and the UN occupiers are responsible for many rapes and murders, including recently opening fire on mourners at the funeral of Father Jean-Juste, another liberation theology priest. Sri Lankan soldiers were recalled after being accused of rape – were they also involved in the recent genocide against Tamil people?

Against all odds and despite pressure from those in power to participate in elections, grassroots people organized “Operation Closed Door”. This massive boycott of the US-financed ($17 m) elections was organized after all 14 candidates from Aristide’s party Fanmi Lavalas were banned from running. The boycott was an outstanding success – only 3% voted, a fantastic example of grassroots independent organizing and solidarity! Lavalas was banned from running the day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Preval, and the present Haitian president. The reason for the ban? Lavalas usually takes over 85% of the vote.

Haitians have been made to pay for their 1804 revolution which overthrew slavery, making way for emancipation in the region and for liberation movements everywhere. The world owes a great debt to the Haitian people. They have never given up – an example to us all.

Women are the first carers everywhere. We support grassroots women in Haiti who are working for survival and against the occupation. We invite you to donate to grassroots projects to grow food, and to join our Lovinsky vigil.

Global Women’s Strike 020 7482 2496 womenstrike8m@server101.com

Information: www.Haitisolidarity.net www.globalwomenstrike.net

Haiti and Honduras - We condemn both coups!

Sign to demand that Latin American governments withdraw their troops from Haiti