EXCERPTS FROM REPORT
International Commission of Inquiry on Haiti
September 16-20, Port Au Prince - Haiti
October 15, 2009: International day of solidarity with the Haitian people and
for the immediate withdrawal of the MINUSTAH troops!
The first session of the International Commission of Inquiry Haiti concluded
with the launching of an appeal to mobilize on October 15, 2009 -- the date when
the United Nations will vote to renew the mandate of the UN's MINUSTAH
"peacekeeping and stabilization" troops in Haiti.
For four days, the delegates that constituted this Commission -- from Algeria,
Brazil, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the United States -- heard dozens of
testimonies by Haitians and by organizations, trade unions, and community groups
from diverse sectors of the Haitian people. To strengthen the work, newspaper
clips, reviews, declarations, videos and photos were also presented.
All this work was prepared by a Coordinating Committee composed of organizations
in Haiti with the assistance of the Association of Workers and Peoples of the
Caribbean (ATPC).
The Commission also met with the high command of the MINUSTAH forces in Haiti:
Major General Floriano Peixoto; Vieira Neto, commander; Colonel Toro, second in
command; and Gérard Le Chevalier, Counselor for Political Affairs.
The request for a hearing with the President and Prime Minister of Haiti did not
receive a response.
* * *
The Commission was informed of the following:
- Layoffs, firings, and anti-union repression
In a country with an unemployment rate of 70% of the workforce, the dismantling
of public services has thrown thousands of workers into the streets: TELECO
(National Telecommunications), had 5,000 layoffs between 2004 and 2008. Massive
layoffs also affected the APN (National Port Authority).
The same occurred at the Brasserie Nationale, where the owner closed the company
to block the creation of a union. In the Industrial Park ("free trade" zone),
the layoffs are routine; if workers vote yes for a union, they are thrown into
the street without any recourse. They are systematically repressed by the police
and by the MINUSTAH troops when they try to oppose this arbitrary act by the
companies.
"B.G.", the president of the Association of Employees Victimized by TELECO
(AEVT), who is also a former shop steward (July 2007), testified before the
commission. He explained that as part of the plan to lay off thousands of
employees, negotiations took place between union representatives and management
on a Friday. The following Thursday (July 5, 2007) police officers were
stationed at the door of TELECO, delivering a letter of dismissal to 2,000
employees. Of the 22 union representatives, 20 were fired. Since then the union
has been beheaded. The unionists tried to demonstrate (18 sat in at TELECO), but
the MINUSTAH troops prevented them from carrying out their protest action. There
remain only 1,100 people in a company to perform the work in a largely
dismantled company -- where 5,000 layoffs have occurred from 2004 to 2008. ...
"The layoffs are not accompanied by any social plan," B.G. reported.
* * *
- Violence against women and the assassinations in which MINUSTAH is involved
are commonplace.
Here are some testimonials:
- SOFA (Haitian Women's Solidarity), Gonaïves, February 2005:
Nadege Nicolas, aged 20, was raped by 3 Pakistani soldiers, members of MINUSTAH.
The spokesman of MINUSTAH, Damien Onses Cardona, said that this was a case of
prostitution, and on this basis, sanctions would be taken against the soldiers.
The Kay Fanm Association (House of Women) has rejected the version of the story,
declaring that it was rape.
- Alter-Press, November 15, 2007:
On November 3, 2007, the UN peacekeepers repatriated 108 Sri Lankans implicated
in cases of sexual abuse of minors. The Minister for Women and Women's Rights,
Mary-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue, said that it was "inconceivable" that no agency
of the Haitian State had been consulted in relationship to these abuses.
- OM, CA ... (Coordinating Association of Women in Cite Soleil), 2009:
Several dozen women were raped by soldiers of MINUSTAH, including a girl aged 15
who gave birth after the rape. "Tini onpil ti minustah péyi nan Ayiti (There are
many small-MINUSTAH in Haiti). These women state that there is nowhere to lodge
complaints against the perpetrators of these assaults.
- Le Nouvelliste, July 19, 2005:
Michel Sidney, 33, third year student of computer science at the Quisqueya
University Institute, was killed Wednesday, July 13, 2005, on the road to the
airport by soldiers of MINUSTAH. He was shot while driving his car, shot in the
head by a projectile fired above the hood. A patrol of the PNH (National Police)
immediately picked up the body and transported it to the hospital morgue in Port
au Prince. Seven days later, without any explanation, his body was returned to
the family. The sister of the victim, Ginou Seid declared to the Commission:
"The way my brother was killed demonstrates how we are of no importance to the
UN soldiers."
- CATH Union (Autonomous Trade Union Confederation of Haitian Workers), October
2008:
Following a protest against the renewal of the mandate of MINUSTAH, Jefaisant
Laguerre, a union activist, carrying a placard on which was inscribed: "Pou
Minista ale! (MINUSTAH Out!), was murdered on October 10, 2008.
- Haiti Liberte, July 29 to August 4, 2009, article "The secret funeral for a
victim of MINUSTAH," page 8:
Kenel Pascal was killed by MINUSTAH, in front of the cathedral in
Port-au-Prince, at the funeral of the Rev. Father Gerard Jean-Juste.
At the meeting between the International Commission of Inquiry and the high
command of MINUSTAH on Thursday, September 17, 2009, at 4 pm, the General
Commander of MINUSTAH said, regarding the death of Kenel Pascal: "The MINUSTAH
soldiers do not use bullets of 9 mm caliber ... Only the officers of MINUSTAH
have use of these weapons."
Haiti Liberté, August 12, 2009, wrote an article titled "MINUSTAH once more
murders ..." (about the death of Kenel Pascal).
* * *
- A youth that is sacrificed
POHDH, Anten Ouvriyé Association Chandel, 16-17 September 2009:
Students of the University of Medicine have protested against the dismantling of
their educatio and, against the privatization of their educational institutions.
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are de facto excluded from the
privatized establishments.
The hosting of the MINUSTAH forces in public buildings (2005 - 2006) deprives
the youth of the structures essential for their training and their education in
a country where there are 500,000 children out of school.
* * *
- An economic catastrophe guaranteed and protected by imperialism, by MINUSTAH
Here are some examples:
- Camille Chalmers, PAPDA, 2009:
The country was self-sufficient in rice consumption in 1972. By 2008, Haiti
imported 82% of its rice consumption.
Statement of the 3rd Conference of the ATPC at Pedestrian City in December 2008:
"The HOPE Act allows the unilateral trade preferences of the United States with
Haiti on textiles and clothing as well as parts of motor vehicles. Within the
framework set by the HOPE Act, Haiti must commit to liberal practices, both
politically and economically. Haiti must also not adopt any measures against the
economic and political interests of the United States. These are the conditions
required by multinationals to produce at costs below those of China and
Vietnam."
And the statement continued:
"Already investors are salivating over the potential opportunities offered by
the HOPE Act."
In an article published on August 15, 2008 in the Brazilian magazine Valor
Economico, the following is written: "In the midst of chaos [chaos of the
economic situation in Haiti -- translator's note], Brazilian companies are
seeking opportunities and beginning to enjoy the strategic leadership position
of Brazil at the helm of MINUSTAH forces . ... Coteminas [the giant Brazilian
textile sector whose CEO is none other than the son of the Vice President of
Brazil -- translator's note] wants to use Haiti as an export platform for
textile manufacture directed to the United States.
"Brazil is a recognized contributor in the process of rescuing Haiti. Our
country has the right to seek preferential treatment," said Josue Gomes da
Silva, president of Coteminas . ... Despite the institutional confusion, Haiti
has significant advantages for a textile company: proximity and differential
access to the biggest market in the world, the United States, and very cheap
labor in Haiti. A seamstress from the capital of Port-au-Prince is paid US$0.50
an hour. This is less than the $3.27 per hour paid in Brazil ... and comparable
to the costs of $0.46 in Vietnam and $0.28 in Bangladesh.
The plan is to export Coteminas cloth from Brazil to Haiti, produce the garments
at very low cost in Haiti, and then export to the United States without tariffs,
as Haitian production will be exempt from any such tariffs by the Hope Act and
its "free trade" agreement provisions." (A non-skilled Haitian worker earns 70
gourds for 8 hours, about US$0.21 per hour.)
MINUSTAH thus serves as a cover for agreements that benefit foreign corporations
at the expense of Haitian workers in violation of ILO conventions!
* * *
- PAPDA, Budget of MINUSTAH and the Haitian State
July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009: US$574,916,500
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010: US $611,751,200. One third of the budget of the
Haitian nation.
The Commission has identified a systematic and organized dismantling of the
Haitian nation.
Some facts:
- Loss of sovereignty, anti-constitutionality
- Agreement signed between the UN and the Government, July 9, 2009
* This agreement has not been voted on by the Haitian Parliament;
* Agreement IV - Status of MINUSTAH, 11, b: "MINUSTAH has on the territory the
right to freely communicate by radio (satellite transmission, mobile and
portable radios included), telephone, email, fax or other means, and establish
the facilities necessary to ensure such communications within its premises and
between them, including the laying of cables and land lines and installation of
transmitters, receivers and transponders fixed and mobile."
* Agreement IV - Status of MINUSTAH, 11, c: The government only can be informed
of the movements of funds and incoming and outgoing mail under the authority of
MINUSTAH in Haiti;
* The Hatian National Police have no right and no authority to intervene on the
premises of MINUSTAH;
* Agreement, VI - Status of members of MINUSTAH, Privileges and Immunities, 26:
"Special Representative" and "colleagues of senior ranks" enjoy diplomatic
immunity ...
- Already between 1991 and 1994, there was the confiscation of the National
Archives by the United States Army - representing some 160,000 pages of
documentary materials taken from the Haitian nation. These documents contain
important archival information about the acts perpetrated by the U.S. military
over a century, including during the period of the coup d'etat.
* * *
- Violations of Freedom on the Press
- Article by POHDH (Haitian organizations of Human Rights), a group of 8
associations of human rights, "Foreign forces in action," February 14, 2007.
"Various cases in which violations involved foreign forces during the period
February 2004 to December 2006:
6.2.4 Attacks on private property:
"On May 31, 2006, in Port au Prince, the work material (tapes) of a TV
journalist - Haiti was seized and crushed by MINUSTAH peacekeepers during
coverage of a press conference of some demobilized soldiers. "
6.2.5 The right to freedom of opinion, expression, assembly or demonstration.
"On May 31, 2006, in Port au Prince, the work material (tapes) of a TV
journalist - Haiti has been seized and crushed by peacekeepers MINUSTAH during
coverage of a press conference by some demobilized soldiers. "
On March 20, 2005, following the intervention of MINUSTAH in Petit-Goâve against
some Haitian military personnel, Larak Robinson, age 26, was shot twice while he
was in local radio station Kontak FM. He was transported by helicopter to
Port-au-Prince and left seriously injured before the gates of the hospital of
the State University of Haiti (HUEH). Parents were notified by the hospital. He
was transferred first to Santo Domingo, then to Cuba where he died, April 5. The
day of his funeral, MINUSTAH intervened, pointing weapons in the direction of
the procession.
- The Nouvelliste, September 1, 2009, article: "BS robbed and beaten by members
of MINUSTAH," page 3, Gilles Freslet.
On August 27, at 8 pm, radio host, Bernier Silvanus, was a victim of abuse and
theft by public forces of MINUSTAH. During this operation, about 100,000 gourds
disappeared.
* * *
- Arbitrary arrests and disappearances
Wilson Mésilien, member of the September 30 Foundation:
Pierre-Antoine Lowinsky disappeared on August 12, 2007; he was a member of the
September 30th Foundation and an activist for human rights. According to the
witness, no serious response was given for his disappearance. Clues (footprints
in his vehicle, his cell phone chip) vanished one after the other. Since October
1997, the September 30 Foundation organizes every Wednesday a picket on the
Place des Martyrs in Port au Prince from 11 am to noon.
- Declaration of the Third Conference of ATPC in Petionville, December 2008:
"In a letter dated the month of August 2008 addressed to the Haitian authorities
on the opportunity of the first anniversary of the disappearance of
Pierre-Antoine Lowinsky, his wife, Michele Pierre-Antoine Lowinsky explains:
"There is no doubt that an active citizen like Pierre-Antoine Lowinsky did not
disappear, he did not evaporate into nature without a trace. Indeed, the tracks
and signs left during and after his abduction, were not adequately explored or
exploited wisely to achieve concrete results. Proof of this are the digital
fingerprints found in the vehicle used by Lowinsky."
- Repression of demonstrations
On November 12, 2006, students were prevented from access to the courtyard of
the Lycée Toussaint Louverture by MINUSTAH soldiers ... They threw tear gas to
disperse the students.
On November 17 of the same year, the MINUSTAH troops cracked down on
demonstrators celebrating the victory of Vertières (November 1803).
On December 5, 2006, student organizations demonstrated in Port-au-Prince, in
front of the Prime Minister's Office to protest against the laxity of the
authorities towards the phenomenon of insecurity: "The soldiers of MINUSTAH
fired to disperse them."
- The Coordinating Committee, June 17, 2009:
-
"For more than two weeks, the government and MINUSTAH have heavily repressed the
UEH (State University of Haiti) ... and organized severe repression against the
population, especially students ... MINUSTAH launched poison gas and shots. A
student was shot twice in the head and several people injured, with over two
dozen arrests, including some passers-by ... "
* * *
- Regression of Voter Turnout
- Camille Chalmers, PAPDA, September 16, 2009:
Since the intervention of MINUSTAH in the electoral process, the participation
of Haitians in the electoral vote went from over 60% in the 2006 general
elections, to 11% in 2009, during Senate elections. The Coordinating Committee
added that despite the involvement of UN forces in the organization of elections
in Haiti, cases of banning political parties from participating in the
elections, fraud and electoral violence have been amplified and there is a
marked decline in the participation rate of voter turnout.
* * *
The Summary of the International Commission of Inquiry concludes:
Under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, such a military intervention (by MINUSTAH)
can be justified only if there is a:
- Civil War
- Natural disaster
- Crime against humanity
- Genocide
The military command of MINUSTAH told the Commission that the reasons for their
presence in Haiti were stabilization and security.
Our investigation has shown that the facts contradict these claims.
On the geopolitical front, Professor Chalmers has shown that the development of
opposition to neo-liberalism in the sphere of Latin American and among the
peoples of the Caribbean, is a direct threat against the interests of
multinationals and imperialism. The development of the implementation of new
U.S. bases in Colombia and Curacao is the embodiment of an offensive strategy
against democracy and the peoples of the area. Continuing the "production of
poverty in Haiti" is one of the main characteristics of UN policy in favor of
this strategy.
MINUSTAH Must Leave Haiti!
