International Day of Solidarity with the Struggle of the People of Haiti

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday February 04, 2007 14:45 by IS - WSM

On the 7th of February of 1986, the Haitian people, after years of revolt against the rich and the powerful in their country, toppled one of the most brutal dictatorships that history has recorded, the one led by the Duvalier family. But not only they did put an end to the US-backed reign of terror of the Duvaliers, but as well, the people were pushing forward a series of popular demands that were meant to radically change the face of Haiti: this was a truly revolutionary struggle.

Today, Haiti is again under the yoke of oppression: this time, under a UN military occupation called MINUSTAH, headed mostly by subservient Latin American governments, but engineered from the US and France, the main imperialist powers controlling Haitian affairs. They took over after the kidnap and coup on former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004. Don’t let us have false illusions on the true nature of MINUSTAH: they are an occupation force that protects the sympathizers of the Duvaliers and other Human Rights violators. They are the only support for the corrupt Haitian elite and for their highly unpopular economic and political system in the absence of a local army (for their part in so many coups, the Haitian army was officially dissolved in 1995).

So MINUSTAH have been efficient in fulfilling their role: to look after the business as usual of the big multinational companies (such as Walt Disney) that exploit the cheap labour of that country, to protect the privilege of the 3% of the Haitians that control over 80% of the wealth of that country and to keep the rabble on line. To accomplish their mission, they have resorted to all sorts of tactics: from massacring civilians to the widespread rape of the population, as reported by a recent BBC documentary. This far, over 10,000 Haitians have died as a direct result of the occupation –the latest of a series of massacres happening on December the 22nd.

Last year elections have changed in no way the situation: the real potential of change lies as always in the hearts of the people. The Haitian workers and poor will be out on the streets on that day demanding change and denouncing the occupation of their country. Here in Dublin, we will be with them, expressing our solidarity with their struggle for change, that it is our own struggle for change. We want to send the message clear that no one who struggles is alone and that no one is forgotten.

So we are calling for a solidarity picket this Wednesday 7th of February out of the Brazilian embassy (HSBC House, 41-54 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2).

END OF THE UN OCCUPATION OR ANY OTHER MILITARY OCCUPATION OF HAITI!

STOP THE MASSACRES AND RAPE ON THE HAITIAN PEOPLE!

FREEDOM TO ALL THE POLITICAL PRISONERS!

RIGHT TO RETURN TO ALL THE EXILES!

END OF IMPERIALIST INTERFERENCE ON HAITI OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD!

Workers Solidarity Movement
(WSM)

Demonstrate on Wednesday 07-02-07 outside of the Brazilian embassy in Ireland, in solidarity with the Haitian people. The embassy is by the Harcourt st LUAS stop, demonstration is at 6.30.