[Marxism] Conditions in Haiti/ US involvement

[gdunkel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Tom Griffin, an immigration and civil rights lawyer in Philadelphia, went
down to Haiti for 10 days in November to investigate what was happening.

He speaks passable Creole and was assisted by a local lawyer in his
investigation.  He has been to Haiti numerous times.

His report, which was issued by the U of Miami Center for the Study of
Human Rights in its Law School and is available at

http://www.ijdh.org/CSHRhaitireport.pdf

It contains graphic and disturbing photos, depicting current conditions in
Haiti.

One striking feature of this report is how it ties the United States to the
overthrow of the Aristide government and the development and
intensification of the violent repression of the Haitian people.

Knowing that Griffin was a criminal investigator in the US Justice Dept for
10 years before he became a lawyer, I was a bit surprised at his
conclusions and what he uncovered in his investigation.

Here is the conclusion of his report (p 59):

"The palpable tension, the hunger and the fear have led to the poor killing
the poor, in Cite Soleil, where rich businessmen appear to be fueling the
fire.  In other poor neighborhoods, the police, backed by UN forces,
routinely carry out indiscriminate and unprofessional killing operations.
The undisciplined army is back, protecting the rich and attacking the poor.
 The justice system is twisted against poor young men, dissidents and
anyone calling for the return of the constituional government.  Prisons
fill with youn men who are arrested without warrants and are denied due
process.  Partisanship and corruption occupy the electoral council's
attention, leaving little hope for free and fair elections."

The conclusion goes on to indict the U.S., Canada and the UN.

The U.S. (and France) wanted to get rid of Aristide and when they
encountered resistance, they resorted to naked and vicious repression.

/greg

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