Declaration
The Civil Society Initiative (Initiative de la Société Civile) expresses its deepest outrage at anti-democratic and revolting actions which are a wake-up call for national awareness.
How can we accept that armed civilians, claiming to be affiliated to the regime, enter administrative and public offices in Cap-Haitien, freely and without questions from the authorities, in order to humiliate and brutally expel public employees and citizens who, on November 17, 2002, had participated in a peaceful demonstration, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution?
How can we understand that, in Cap-Haitien and Gonaives, journalists and other members of the media were harassed and threatened for having chosen to broadcast that Vertieres march, organized by the Citizens’ Initiative?
How can we understand that, the next day, another peaceful demonstration was repressed with bullets and blood by police, as thousands of students and citizens participated?
How can we continue to accept as a ?fait accompli? that Amiot Metayer, a.k.a. ?Cuban,? appeared publicly, on November 18, in front of the police station in Gonaives, to declare through the media that he owes his release and his power to Lavalas? He is a fugitive from justice facing an arrest warrant and was deeply involved in the criminal acts of December 17, 2001. And finally, how can we understand that today, November 21, that same Amiot Metayer feels that he is entitled to use a handgun to suppress a students? demonstration in Gonaives?
The Civil Society Initiative believes that these unfortunate and sad events raise serious questions about the willingness of the regime to implement OAS resolutions 806 and 822 and create conditions for credible and democratic elections throughout the country. This comes at a time when five institutions from the civil society have jointly and conditionally submitted, in good faith, the names of their representatives for the eventual creation of a new CEP.
In light of the danger increasingly threatening the future of our country, the Civil Society Initiative calls upon the regime to respect fully the claims of the Haitian people for justice and democracy. Today, the different sectors of the nation are saying, loudly and clearly, that they will not accept the unacceptable, nor will they accept the constant violation of the rule of law.
For Authentication