Edition Electronique

Vol. 8, No. 28
Du  Jan  21  au  Jan 27. 2015

Kòrdinasyon Desalin: Conférence de presse

Appeal issued by the Haitian Coordinating Committee for the Withdrawal of UN Troops from Haiti

2004-2014: Ten Years of Occupation, Enough Is Enough! MINUSTAH Must Go!

After the coup/kidnapping of February 29, 2004, against President Jean Bertrand Aristide, who was democratically elected for a term of five years, the major imperialist powers -- the United States, France, Canada and others -- imposed an occupation force on Haiti with the alleged purpose of "stabilizing" the country. This occupation force has a name: the United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH). It is composed of soldiers from many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, etc. -- and it is led by Brazil.

            Ten years later, the balance-sheet of the MINUSTAH occupation is heavy in terms of violations of the right to self-determination and the human rights of the Haitian people, which the UN as an organization was responsible for enforcing. The UN soldiers were involved in the various massacres in poor neighborhoods: Cité Soleil, Bel Air, La Saline, Grand Ravine. They committed -- and continue to commit -- crimes such as rape, hangings, homicide, and torture across Haiti -- and this with full impunity. For them immunity is synonymous with impunity. In 2010, the UN soldiers brought the cholera epidemic into Haiti, an epidemic that has killed more than 8,000 Haitians and infected more than 800,000 others.

            In addition, the UN force has done nothing to advance democracy in Haiti; elections have not been held over the past three years to renew the political and administrative office-holders and personnel. Poor governance and corruption have become the norm during the UN-MINUSTAH's watch.

            Legally, the presence of UN forces in Haiti violates the UN Charter, the Charter of the Organization of American States and the Haitian Constitution. The Haitian people have never accepted this occupation force. Demonstrations across the country and a resolution of the Senate have called for the unconditional departure of MINUSTAH troops from Haiti. The real objective of the UN force is to suppress and enslave the first Black Republic in the world. "There are two ways to enslave and conquer a nation: one is by arms, the other is by the debt," said John Adams. In Haiti the powers-that-be have chosen the former when the latter has failed.

International Solidarity

Since 2008, Haiti has benefitted from the solidarity of the peoples of different countries, including in Latin America and the Caribbean.

- In June 2008, a conference was held in Port-au-Prince.

- On November 5, 2010, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a Continental Rally was held  to demand the immediate withdrawal of UN troops from Haiti.

- On November 16-18, 2011, a Caribbean Conference was held in Vertières (Cap-Haïtien) under the banner of "Let's Act Together for a Sovereign Haiti: MINUSTAH Out Now!"

- On June 1, 2012, a Continental Day of Action was held in Port-au- Prince and elsewhere around the theme: "For the Immediate Withdrawal of MINUSTAH Troops from Haiti and For Full Sovereignty for the Haitian People."

- On May 28, 2013, the Haitian Senate adopted a resolution calling for the departure of MINUSTAH troops by May 28, 2014.

- On May 31-June 1, 2013, a Continental Conference for the Withdrawal of MINUSTAH Troops was held in Port-au-Prince under the banner of "To Defend Haiti Is To Defend Ourselves."

- In October 2013, a continental delegation traveled to the UN Headquarters in New York City to submit to the UN officials the main demands of the Haitian people, which are the immediate withdrawal of the UN-MINUSTAH troops from Haiti and reparations for all the victims of the cholera epidemic. The Haitian government has refused to support these demands and bring them before the UN.

            Strengthened by this international solidarity, the struggle for the withdrawal of UN troops, reparations for the victims of the cholera epidemic, and the repayment/repatriation of the huge sums extorted after Haiti's independence must continue relentlessly.

Ten Years Is Enough!

It's Unacceptable! We Say NO to Occupation!

We -- the undersigned youth, students, workers, peasants, trade unions, and activists in the progressive, democratic, women's, and neighborhood organizations -- more than ever, call for a mobilization against the UN troops in Haiti.

            With this perspective, we propose the convening of a Continental Day of Action on June 1, 2014, marking the 10th anniversary of the landing of UN forces in Haiti, with rallies, demonstrations, delegations, appeals to the governments of CELAC [Latin American Economic Community] in particular, delegations to the Congresses across the continent to support the resolution of the Haitian Senate, petitions, and more.

First Signatories: