From: jon@uci.uci.com (Jon Harder)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.caribbean
Subject: CPT HAITI: PRAYER VIGIL CALLS U. S. TO WALK ITS TALK
Date: 21 Dec 1992 12:46:19 -0600
Organization: Unified Communications, Inc.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: uci.uci.com


December 16, 1992

For Immediate Release

Port-au Prince, Haiti - At the gates of the U. S. Embassy,
leaders of the united faith committee of Americans working
in Haiti were joined by the 16 member Christian Peacemaker
Team for a prayer vigil, marking this day December 16 1992,
the second anniversary of Haiti's first open democratic
election.   The vigilers prayed for a change in U. S. policy
toward refugees, towards Haiti and its record of human
rights abuses and for the return to greater justice for all
Haiti's people.  

Local representatives made up less than half of the total
group due to fear of reprisals from the military authorities
who police the country and dominate the de facto government.
In a liturgy from the Old Testament prophets and New
Testament words of hope, the vigilers lifted the concern for
justice which American policy has stated but failed to
support in its minimal involvement in supporting a return to
democracy since the September 1991 violent military coup.

Vigil participants also noted the U S governments' refusal
to accept political refugees (boat people), and the absence
of a major diplomatic initiative to bring the crisis to an
end.  A statement from the united faith community summarized
other central issues as: 

     - a call to put teeth into an embargo that is now
freely violated..

     - a challenge to enlarge official discussion regarding
the thousands of human rights violations

     - an encouragement to freeze assets and privileges of
the coup leaders.

     - a call to promise development aid when there are
democratic reforms.

     - a  call for Organizations of American States
delegations of hundreds instead of eighteen.

Local leaders joined in signing the larger document with
these concerns and presented it to the embassy staff.
The Christian Peacemaker Team, a U S based work of Mennonite
and Church of the Brethren congregations presented a call
for presence and participation with the Haitian people which
invited the people of the world to come and stand in
solidarity.  This call was written by a Haitian leader now
in hiding who had been a  major participant in their week
long mission in Haiti, Dec. 10-17.

Both local and international press were present throughout
the vigil and within the hour, the statements of the
Christian Peacemaker Team and the Interfaith document were
played on both national radio and television.  Many
expressions of gratitude for the empowerment this vigil
offered poured in from Haitian leaders and peasant groups.

"You are able to say and do, on our behalf, what we want to
say with our hearts but dare not unless we choose to say it
with our lives," said one.

Late in the day, the Presidential Commission, the official
body in Haiti supporting the deposed Aristide government now
in exile in the United States, announced that it would
continue this activity by holding a public peace walk on
Friday, two days later.  Many of these persons are in hiding
or in highly vulnerable positions, so this walk around the
legislative offices , the major military offices and the
national palace is  an action of courage.  Activities like
standing together in prayers in public risking, and in
forthright verbal witness is widely affirmed as an
encouragement to the justice movements throughout the
nation.

Observation teams of concerned civilians from other nations
provide important support for those endangered by military
and police threats and a nonviolent means of intervention
which serves as a limitation or deterrence against abuse.
For further information on forming observer teams or
participation with existing groups contact Christian
Peacemaker Teams.

   Christian Peacemaker Teams
   1821 Cullerton
   Chicago, IL 60608
   (312) 421-5513