Tuesday 12 August - Anniversary of the abduction of Lovinsky, human rights activist
Thursday, 7 August, 2008 12:53 PM
Tues 12 August – 1st anniversary of the disappearance of
Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine
Special Vigils in London, Haiti,
San Francisco, Los Angeles & elsewhere
With conviction and hope, we will be holding a Special Vigil to mark one year since the disappearance in Haiti of our dear friend and colleague, human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine. On this day, we remember Lovinsky’s work for justice and his abduction, and remind the US , UN and Haitian authorities that his family, friends and community, and people around the world will continue tirelessly to demand his safe return.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY VIGIL IN LONDON
1-2 pm Brazilian Embassy, 32 Green St , W1
“ Brazil : Head of UN forces in Haiti – What are you doing to find Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine?”
2 pm Walk to the US Embassy, 24 Grosvenor Sq, W1
“End US / UN occupation and starvation of the people of Haiti !”
3pm-5.15pm Silent Vigil on the steps St Martin’s in Field, Trafalgar Square
“Lovinsky, Haiti – We are with you!”
Latest information visit the blog: www.lovinsky.org
Or contact Global Women’s Strike 020 7482 2496 womenstrike8m@server101.com
¨ Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is co-founder of Fondayson Trant Septanm for victims of the 1991 and 2004 military coups against elected President Aristide. He is an advocate of those with least, especially single mothers and street children. He was abducted after meeting with a US-Canadian human rights delegation visiting Haiti . He had been pressing for changes to the constitution so that Haiti would never again have an army, and shortly before his abduction he had announced his intention to stand for the Senate, an election he was most likely to win.
¨ Fondayson Trant Septanm holds weekly vigils, like the Mothers of the Disappeared in Central and South America . Its members have been targeted.
¨ Amnesty International has issued two reports for Lovinsky’s return and the safety of his colleague, Wilson Mésilien, who has been forced into hiding.
¨ Lovinsky’s wife Michelle and their sons, US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, UK parliamentarian John McDonnell, Pax Christi Intl., actors Danny Glover and Vanessa Redgrave, authors George Lamming and Benjamin Zephaniah and thousands of concerned people have appealed to Haiti ’s President René Préval and to the UN.
¨ Weekly vigils and fasts have been held in a number of countries for the past year putting pressure on Brazil, head of UN forces in Haiti, and on the US, Canada and France which organized the 2004 coup. In London there is a weekly vigil in front of the Brazilian embassy every Wednesday.
¨ The world owes a huge debt to the Haitian people. Their 1804 revolution was the first to overthrow slavery, making way for emancipation throughout the region and strengthening liberation movements everywhere. Haiti directly aided South American Liberator Simón Bolivar.
¨ But Haiti paid for its victory. France imposed a crippling debt forcing Haiti to pay for its loss of slaves and costs incurred from the Haitian Revolution. The US imposed coups, invasions and dictators. They killed thousands and forced many others into exile. A tiny elite has profited from sweatshops which exploit an impoverished population, and from the destruction of local farming to make way for US rice. With food price increases half the population now faces starvation.
¨ The people of Haiti have never given up. Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, beloved father, community organiser and member of Aristide’s Lavalas movement, represents their revolutionary resistance and determination. Ending poverty and human rights abuses have been central to his work.
We are all connected by the thread of solidarity in day-to-day struggle for a world of equality, justice and peace. On 12 August you can: ¨ Participate in the vigil . ¨ Fast for Lovinsky’s release . ¨ Fast at another time, on ___________ ¨ Add your name to the international list of fasters . ¨ Sign and ask your friends and colleagues to sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/lovinsky/petition.html ¨ Download the petition as a word.doc and collect signatures. ¨ Write/fax/email the Brazilian Embassy the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the US Embassy in Haiti , and Haitian President Préval . Visit the Lovinsky blog for addresses .
