From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Observers needed in Haiti
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 00:00:19 GMT

/** reg.carib: 304.0 **/
** Topic: HAITI OBSERVERS: IT'S TIME TO GO! **
** Written  5:43 pm  Sep 29, 1992 by worth in cdp:reg.carib **
The Coalition for Civilian Observers in Haiti (CCOH), an emergency committee
working to facilitate, organize and coordinate civilian observer missions to
Haiti, issues this urgent call to the international community to send observers
to Haiti NOW, to amplify the effects of the OAS mission by vastly increasing
the number of international observers.

During the December 1990 elections, the presence of large numbers of inter-
national observers played a critical role in decreasing violence and
increasing the Haitian people's ability to express their will freely.  Many
in the Haitian pro-democracy movement hope that now, during the current OAS
mission, delegations can again advance human rights and free expression.

Last fall, officials in the international community reacted with swift,
emphatic denunciations of the coup.  The OAS responded firmly, expressing its
intention to send a 400 to 500-member civilian observer mission to help
return Haiti to a government which respects rights and liberty.  Eleven
months later, only 18 members of an OAS civilian mission have gone to Haiti,
and two of these went back to the U.S. within the first two weeks.

Meanwhile, the repression has caused over 3,000 deaths, the mass exodus of
over 50,000 people, and displacement of over 400,000 trying to escape the
terror by hiding.  Repression increases daily, particularly in the rural
areas, where repression has become a systematic, institutionalized terrorism
by Section Chiefs.

Response of the OAS and other government organizations has been too little,
too late: the initial promises of the official international community have
not been kept.  A concerted solidarity response from voluntary groups and
private citizens in the international community is critical at this moment
in Haiti's history.

A number of NGOs, religious communities and civic action groups in Haiti are
ready to help with in-country logistics and to identify the areas where the
presence of civilian observers will be most helpful and the needs for
accompaniment are most critical.  The CCOH will help observer missions to
organize, link up with groups in Haiti, and coordinate communications, post-
mission reports, and media contacts.

While a number of different groups organize delegations, coordination of effort
is needed to maximize the effects of such delegations, both in Haiti and in the
U.S.  Thus, CCOH is being established to (1) provide delegations with contacts
and schedules in Haiti to provide maximum coverage, especially in the country-
side; (2) facilitate sharing of information and experiences; (3) publish
joint reports or summaries and build a steady flow of information about
current conditions; and (4) review, over the span of several delegations,
controversial policies issues related to the embargo, refugee repatriation,
in-country asylum procedures, etc.

For more information on CCOH, delegations being formed now for October and
November, and/or how a delegation you're working with can link up with
others to whatever degree works for you, please FAX your name, address and
phone numbe/fax numbers to: CCOH/WOH at (202) 547-9382... or reply to this
message here... or leave a voice message at (301) 598-9194 OR (703) 522-3818.

Also, if you/your organization are willing and able to work with the CCOH
coordinating committee, PLEASE LET US KNOW.  With many hands, nothing is
impossible.
** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive