On Saturday 2 February, Selma James dedicated her key note speech at a conference marking the 70th anniversary of CLR James's masterpiece “The Black Jacobins”, to Lovinsky Pierre Antoine, the abducted human rights defender missing in Haiti for over 6 months.
The Black Jacobins is CLR James classic study of the Haitian Revolution. The people of Haitian were the first to overthrow their slave masters and defeat the most powerful empire of the time. Their victory strengthened the struggle to end slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean, and everyone resisting exploitation and injustice. It directly aided the anti-colonial movement in South America: Liberator Simon Bolivar took refuge in free Haiti twice and Haitian soldiers joined his ranks asking no other reward than the abolition of slavery.
Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is a much loved and respected advocate for the poor. He is a co-founder of Fondasyon Trant Septanm, an organization for the families of the victims of the 1991 and 1994 coups - the first against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Like the Mothers of the Disappeared in Central and South America, they hold weekly vigils demanding justice for victims of human rights violations and the release of political prisoners.
Lovinsky is also co-founder of Fondasyon Kore Timoun Yo for young street children in Port-au-Prince, of FAM, a centre for teenage mothers, and of Map Viv (“I Live”) which gives medical support to the victims of the 1991 and 1994 coups.
Selma James, widow and close colleague of CLR for almost 30 years is co-ordinator of the Global Women's Strike which holds a weekly Fast and Vigil for Lovinsky. She says: “We have a great debt to the Haitian people whose victorious revolution led the way. The Haitian Revolution has survived the imposition of a crippling debt, numerous coups and dictatorships. It is alive today in the extraordinary resilience and courage of people like Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine. CLR would have been delighted to see that his book was being used to raise the profile of today's Revolution.
We can't just stand by. We have to ask the Commissioner for Human Rights and Forced Disappearances of the United Nations to take action. What is Brazil, which heads the UN forces that occupy Haiti, doing? What is the United States doing? They were quick to go in and force President Aristide out. They have enormous power. What are they doing now to find Lovinsky? We must leave no stone unturned.” Amnesty International has just issued a second Urgent Action Report for Lovinsky Pierre Antoine and his colleague Wilson Mésilien (Monday 28 January 08, see attached, available in English, and French Spanish). Haitian people are keeping up determined efforts to ensure Lovinsky's safe return, and need ongoing international support.
How you can continue support for Lovinsky:
Circulate Amnesty International's report and fax or email the Haiti government and other authorities listed. LINK Join the Weekly Fast and Vigil every Wednesday 5-6pm outside the Brazilian Embassy, 32 Green Street, London W1 7AT. Brazil heads the UN forces in Haiti.
Write/Email/Fax the Brazilian Embassy every Wednesday. We have heard that the Embassy has received many letters.
If you can't come to the Vigil, fast where you are and let us know. Wear a Lovinsky badge available from the Centre on 020 7 482 2496. Sign and circulate in your networks the [NEW online petition.
Over 2,000 including many prominent people such as actors Danny Glover, Martin Sheen and Vanessa Redgrave have signed already.
Remind your MP to sign John McDonnell's Early Day Motion, and contact your local press/media about Lovinsky. Let us know if you'd like to call a Vigil or gather signatures on the petition in your area. Ask your church or faith group to hold a service for Lovinsky. A number have already taken place. It's an important way of keeping him present and with us. For information about actions for Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, model letters and the AI reports from the Global Womens Strike, Crossroads Women's Centre, 230a Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AB Tel: 020 7482 2496 womenstrike8m@server101.com
For info about the Conference, organised by the London Socialist Historians Institute of Historical Research, 10am-4.30pm, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1 £10