Boston protest hits repression in Haiti
An emergency picket was held in front of the
Haitian Consulate here on July 2 to protest the arrest of
former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune. Neptune had served under
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He was arrested June 27 by
the regime of Gerard Latortue, who was installed after the
United States sent troops to Haiti and kidnapped Aristide in
February. Many Hait ians do not recognize the new regime.
The demonstration, called by the newly formed New England
Human Rights Organi zation for Haiti, included representatives
of Aristide's party, Fanmi Lavalas, as well as ANSWER Boston,
Steel Workers Local 8751 and Venezuelans from the MLK Boli
varian Circle. They chanted, "No Aristide, no peace," "U.S. CIA
out of Haiti," and "Free Yvon Neptune, free So Ann." So Ann is
a popular folk singer and a grandparent jailed by the new
regime.
The protest called attention to the kidnapping of Aristide
and the continued occu pation of Haiti by U.S., French and
other forces. Thousands of Lavalas supporters have been
brutally murdered or forced into exile by U.S.-armed "contras"
such as the notorious Guy Philippe. Many of the protesters were
interviewed live by a radio station in Haiti's capital,
Port-au-Prince.
-- Peter Cook
Reprinted from the July 15, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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