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Rally commemorates anniversary of U.S. coup in Haiti

Published Mar 2, 2005 3:01 PM

In Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 27, the Lavalas Family party (FL) and the National Popular Party (PPN) marked the anniversary of the coup-napping carried out by U.S. Special Forces a year ago against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti with a program called "Haiti: the Betrayal of Democracy."


Ben Dupuy

Over 10,000 people have been killed by the Haitian police and paramilitary for the crime of demonstrating or being poor, according to Mario Dupuy, the communications director for Fanmi Lavalas. FL is one of the major political parties in Haiti.

Dupuy told the rally: "Soon after the coup, the Haitian people showed their will to demonstrate for justice and democracy. And they are willing to die for their political convictions."

Kim Ives, a rally co-chair representing the Haiti Solidarity Network, began the program by pointing out: "There is worldwide resistance to the attempts by the United States to establish a global empire" and "this evening and the resistance of the people of Haiti are part of this struggle."

He went on to say that while the FL and PPN are parties with different programs and different points of view, "they are united in their complete rejection of the coup."

Hanz Laurenceau, the co-chair from FL New York, said: "The resistance to the coup continues. There were big marches on Feb. 7 and more are scheduled." He stressed that the struggle in Haiti is for "justice, democracy and sovereignty."

The FL will not take part in the bogus elections the de-facto government is planning at the urging of its masters. FL sees the solution for the current crisis in Haiti lying in a return to constitutional order and respect for Aristide's mandate.

Ben Dupuy, the secretary general of the PPN, said: "People have the right to use any means necessary to achieve their just demands. They cannot be restricted to dialog only."

Dupuy reiterated that sovereignty and independence in 1804 were not gifts. They were won through struggle and sacrifice. They certainly won't be a gift in 2005, either.

Two anti-war North American groups, the ANSWER Coalition and the Inter na tional Action Center, sent representatives to give greetings to the audience. Caneisha Mills spoke on behalf of ANSWER.

LeiLani Dowell of the IAC said: "One of the main focuses of the IAC is to expose the ugly face of U.S. imperialism, which brings terror and misery throughout the world, including Haiti. The United States and France marked the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence by attacking and occupying the country."

She also talked about the March 19 demonstration set for New York City to mark the second anniversary of the U.S. war against Iraq. Ending the occupation of Haiti will be one of the key demands raised on March 19.

Thomas Griffin, a lawyer who investigated the civil rights situation in Haiti in November, presented his gruesome and revealing pictures that show the reconstitution of the Haitian army under the direction of U.S. advisers.

Kevin Pina, a U.S. journalist working in Haiti for the Haitian Information Project, presented an unfinished version of his film "Haiti: The Betrayal of Democracy." The film shows how the bourgeois Haitian and international media ignored the massive demonstrations in support of Aristide before the coup, and how those sources presented the provocations of so-called student groups in a deceitful and misleading fashion.

Eddy Francois of Combo Guinen and the famous chorale Voix et Tambours sang a beautiful rendition of "La Dessalinienne" to open the program, along with some popular songs that brought the audience to their feet. Marguerite Laurent, a Haitian poet, combined words, drumming and dance in a beautiful expression of Haitian culture.

People kept on coming for hours after the program started, with the total reaching nearly 500. Most were from the Haitian community but a number of progressive North Americans came after hearing about the program from the progressive radio station WBAI.