Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

End The Occupation of Haiti

END THE OCCUPATION OF HAITI

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY EVO MORALES AYMA

President of the Republic of Bolivia 

10 February 2009

Dear Compañero Morales,

Cc Presidents Hugo Chavez, Fidel and Raul Castro 

We write with deep respect for you, Compañero Morales, and the massive Indigenous movement that brought you to power. All over the world we have celebrated your 2005 and 2008 electoral victories, and the recent adoption of the new constitution. We have publicly condemned the racism of the elite and their massacre of Indigenous and rural people, in Santa Cruz, Pando and elsewhere. Those of us who live in Bolivia have fought and marched over many years, and continue to organize to ensure the implementation of the constitution, and the prosecution of all those who, like ex-prefect of Pando Leopoldo Fernandez, have murdered, raped and maimed in attempts to bring down the government and deny us the power to found society anew.   

As organisers and concerned individuals from different countries, many of us immigrants, we deeply appreciated your excellent statement against the European Return Directive which calls for immigrant people to be detained for up to six months before they are deported.   

The year 2008 marked the 35^th anniversary of the US-orchestrated coup in Chile which killed President Allende and thousands of other people who were fighting for a better world. At a meeting in London called “No More Pinochets”, the Bolivian and Venezuelan ambassadors Beatriz Souviron and Samuel Moncada explained their governments’ admirable decisions to expel the US ambassadors from both countries. They called on grassroots people everywhere to unite so we can defeat Washington’s free market policies and survive.   

ACABEMOS CON LA OCUPACION DE HAITI

CARTA ABIERTA A SU EXCELENCIA EVO MORALES AYMA

Presidente de la Republica de Bolivia 

10 de febrero del 2009

Estimado Compañero Morales, 

Escribimos con profundo respeto hacia usted, Compañero Morales, y el gran movimiento indígena que le llevó al poder. Celebramos, como en todo el mundo, sus victorias electorales en 2005 y 2008, y más recientemente la aprobación de la nueva constitución.  Hemos denunciado públicamente el racismo de las élites y las masacres que han cometido contra indígenas y campesinas/os en Santa Cruz, Pando y otros lugares. Quienes vivimos en Bolivia llevamos muchos años luchando y manifestándonos, y continuamos organizándonos para asegurar la aprobación y realización de la nueva constitución, y el juicio a todos aquellos que, como el ex-prefecto de Pando Leopoldo Fernández, han asesinado, violado y mutilado para derrocar al gobierno y negarnos el poder para fundar una sociedad nueva.   

Como integrantes de organizaciones y como personas individuales de diferentes países, inmigrantes muchas-os de nosotras-os, apreciamos profundamente su excelente respuesta a la Directiva de Retorno de la Unión Europea, que permite la detención de inmigrantes durante un periodo de hasta seis meses antes de ser deportados.   

Resolution in support of disappeared Haitian human rights leader Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

September 30, 2007

To: Pacifica Radio National Board

RE: Resolution in support of disappeared Haitian human rights leader Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

From: Submitted by Margaret Prescod, KPFK

 

Whereas, Haitian human rights leader Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is missing in Haiti and has not been seen since the evening of Sunday, August 12, 2007 after meeting with a U.S. human rights delegation then in Haiti;

 

Whereas, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is a tireless fighter for the Haitian people: a grassroots leader and founding member and coordinator of the September 30^th Foundation, a Haitian human rights organization which advocates for victims of the 1991 coup, the first against President Aristide;

 

Whereas, as a young psychologist working in Port au Prince, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine helped establish Fondsayon Kore Timoun Yo (Foundation for the Support of Children) for street children in Port au Prince; FAM (Foyer pour Adolescentes Mères), a center for teenage mothers; and Map Viv ("I Live"), a program designed to give psychological and medical aid to the victims of the 1991 coup;

 

Whereas, the September 30^th Foundation, named for the date of the first coup against President Aristide in 1991, emerged out of this work, and similar to the work of Mothers of the Disappeared in Central and South America, held weekly vigils demanding justice for victims of human rights violations and the release of political prisoners;

 

Whereas, Lovinsky Pierre Antoine has been snatched from his family and the community that loves and needs him;

 

Whereas, the Haitian grassroots and sisters and brothers throughout the Caribbean region have asked for international support in calling for the safe return of Lovinsky Pierre Antoine;

 

Whereas, the KPFK local station board has joined the call for a safe return of Lovinsky Pierre Antoine;

 

Therefore be it resolved, that the Pacifica Radio National Board is concerned and outraged over the disappearance of this valiant fighter for human rights and dignity, and we support the call to the United Nations; the government of President Rene Preval; the government of Brazil, as head of the UN military mission in Haiti; and the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince to do all in their power to ensure that Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is released unharmed;

 

Be it further resolved, that the Pacifica Radio National Board encourage all Pacifica stations and affiliates to educate its listeners about Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine and his life of working for peace and justice, and to keep critical attention focused on the need for Lovinsky to be returned safely to his family and his people.

The Black Jacobins and the disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine

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

Urgent appel pour assurer le retour indemne de Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, activiste des droits humains haïtien porté disparu

Chères amies, chers amis,

 

 

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, un activiste   des droits humains haïtien de renommée internationale a été porté   disparu depuis le 12 août.

 

Vous trouverez   ci-dessous un appel, demandant qu'il soit retourné indemne à sa famile et à   son travail de défense des droits humains, destiné au Président d'Haïti   René Préval, ainsi qu'aux consulats/ambassades/Haut-Commissariats du Brésil,   du Canada et des États-Unis dans le pays où vous vous trouvez. Ces   gouvernements jouent un rôle crucial à l'égard des forces de l'ONU (dirigées   par le Brésil) qui assument la responsabilité de la loi et l'ordre en   Haïti. Des renseignements sur le contexte de cet appel sont   fournis ci-dessous. Le lien de l'appel (en anglais) est   le petition.   

     

Nous vous   invitons à ajouter votre nom pour faire savoir aux destinataires de cet appel   l'urgence avec laquelle Lovinsky doit être retourné indemne. Jusqu'à présent   plus de 500 organisations, personnalités et autres individus ont déjà   signé en provenance de 16 pays des Caraïbes, ainsi que d'autres pays, y   compris l'acteur/activiste Danny Glover, l'écrivain George Lamming, le   journaliste Rickey Singh; le Walter Rodney Commemorative Committee   (Caraïbes, États-Unis, Royaume-Uni, Canada, Afrique); les centres de femmes   Crossroads (Espagne, États-Unis, Guyane, Royaume-Uni); le conseil de la   station de radio KPFK, Pacifica Radio (Californie).
  Premières signatures ci-dessous.

 

Femmes de Couleur dans la Grève mondiale   des femmes et Red Thread (Guyane)

 

womenstrike8m@server101.com    www.globalwomenstrike.net