Protest Haiti Coup Supporters’ Participation
in Washington DC Symposium

We the undersigned would like to protest the symposium on Haiti entitled "The Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti"; Ron Daniels and the group with whom he is affiliated, the Haiti Support Group, are sponsors of the symposium. The symposium is to take place March 17-18 in Washington, DC.

At a time when thousands of Haitians have been killed, disappeared or imprisoned without charge by an illegal coup regime, this symposium brings together prominent supporters of the coup and of the U.S.-sponsored opposition movement which made possible the removal of Haiti's democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The guest list for this symposium is packed with forces that actively undermined the democratic process in Haiti. This list includes representatives from the National Coalition for Haitian Rights, which spread false allegations against many, including Prime Minister Yvon Neptune; allegations, which were used to arrest and illegally detain him. Even as this symposium moves forward, the life of Prime Minister Neptune is at risk as a result of months in illegal detention, violent threats against him and now from a hunger strike protesting his detention and the detention of hundreds of other political prisoners.

Others attending the symposium include Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, who provided shelter and sustenance for armed militia led by Guy Philippe, whose armed gang ransacked northern Haiti before, during and after the coup period. Another participant is Frandley Julien, the leader of the anti-Aristide opposition in Cap-Haitien, which joined in violent attacks against Lavalas supporters during the terrible days preceding last February's coup. Gabriel Marcella from the U.S Army War College, who has argued for protectorate status for Haiti, also will be there. And the list goes on and on.

This is a time for supporters of Haiti to be clear. We cannot stand silently by while opponents of Haitian democracy spread disinformation and build division.

It is not possible to proclaim solidarity with the Haitian people while failing to denounce the brutal coup d'etat and occupation that has left Haiti a graveyard for human rights. It is not possible to support the Haitian people while giving credibility and a humane face to those who were active in removing the first democratically elected President of Haiti and in the repression that followed, destroying Haiti's democracy. One cannot proclaim friendship with the people of Haiti while failing to call for the return of democracy in Haiti, beginning with the physical return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to his rightful, constitutional position.

We support the demands of the Haitian people, as articulated on March 14, 2005
by Fanmi Lavalas:

1. Cessation of political persecution directed towards its members and supporters;

2. Liberation of all political prisoners; (more)

3. End of illegal arrests and summary executions
   (Over 10,000 Fanmi Lavalas supporters killed and more than 1,000 jailed
   since February 2004);

4. Effective disarmament of groups and/or individuals illegally armed;

5. Restoration of the constitutional order in Haiti by the physical return
   of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; and

6. Organization of free, honest and democratic general elections in Haiti

Since the coup, thousands of Haitians, beginning with women and children have been murdered, raped, put in prison. Many have sacrificed their lives fighting for these demands, which represent the only path towards the restoration of human rights and democracy in Haiti.

We invite you to stand with us in supporting the above demands and in protesting
the "Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti" symposium.

Jean-Yvon Kernizan Haitian Initiative for Democracy Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine Fondasyon 30 Septanm Alina Sixto Ajoupa Fanm Viktim Leve Kanpe (FAVILEK) Women Victims Organization, Haiti Pierre Hector Konbit pou Sove Ayiti, Haiti Paulette Joseph, Cellule de Reflexion Base Fanmi Lavalas 11eme Departement Pierre Labossiere Haiti Action Committee Marguerite Laurent Haitian Lawyers' Leadership Network Lavarice Gaudin Veye Yo Lucie Tondreau Veye Yo Rasanbleman Alye Fanmi Lavalas, Haiti Eugenia Charles Fondasyon Mapou Wilson Mesilien Fondasyon 30 Septanm Haiti Women's Rights for Children's Rights, Haiti Fritz Péan, Montréal Julie Hoover Marc Pilisuk Wendy Ebersberger

Bill Fletcher President, TransAfrica Danny Glover Randall Robinson Walter Riley - Attorney-at-Law Chair of Vanguard Public Foundation Brian Concannon - Attorney-at-Law Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti Margaret Prescod Women of Color in the Global Women's Strike Andaiye Red Thread, Guyana David Commissiong Clement Payne Society, Barbados Kali Williams Malcolm X Grassroots Movement Walter Turner, Host - Africa Today (KPFA) Chair - Global Exchange Kim Ives Haiti Support Network (HSN) Kay Coll - ssj/ HSNNE Malaika Hodari Kambon Willie & Mary Ratcliff San Francisco Bay View newspaper Dominique Esser - photographer Claude Marks The Freedom Archives

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I support the pro-democracy Haitian community who protest "The Future of Democracy and Development in Haiti" Symposium to take place in Washington DC March 17-18; and I support the above stated demands.

Name/Individual or organization; Email: Telephone: Fax:

eMail info to petition@haitiaction.org

ALSO please contact the Haiti Support Project at (202) 397-1770 and voice your concerns about the symposium. Please let members of the Congressional Black Caucus know that you would appreciate their support of the above demands, and if they already do that you appreciate their efforts. Please let them know that you object to March 17-18 DC symposium.

For more information: www.haitiaction.org or call (510) 483-7481.

Contact: Jean-Yvon Kernizan, 347-262-1818