Open letter from Haitian civil society and human rights organizations warning African countries against the evils of an illegitimate foreign intervention in Haiti planned by imperialist countries
Posted on Rezo Nodwes, August 22, 2203
Dear African cousins and friends,
As Haitian civil society and human rights organizations focused on guaranteeing and promoting democracy, the defense of human rights and security in Haiti, we are writing to you to sound the alarm against an international military deployment endorsed by the imperialist countries: the United States, Canada and France, and requested by the illegitimate, corrupt and repressive government of Ariel HENRY; these are the same actors who are responsible for the crises in Haiti. If the international community (the United States, Canada and France) really wants to protect human rights in Haiti and help restore security, it must first stop supporting the puppet government and give Haitians the space they need to set up a legitimate and competent transitional government. Otherwise, it will be yet another costly act of foreign interference, which will not bring lasting stability to the Haitian people, but rather reinforce the power of a group of undemocratic and exploitative politicians.
The reasons for our rejection of an illegitimate foreign intervention in Haiti planned by imperialist countries are as follows:
The de facto regime is illegal, corrupt and complicit in human rights violations
Haiti, which forged a fledgling democracy out of a brutal foreign-backed dictatorship in the 1990s, now has no elected representatives. The de facto government is operating in conditions that are increasingly hellish for the majority of the population. This crisis is the result of twelve years of consolidation of power by actors who have deliberately dismantled the mechanisms of democracy and justice in Haiti, encouraged corruption and empowered gangs to use violence against civilians with impunity. Dr. Ariel HENRY's de facto regime is composed of these same actors and has no legitimacy to govern. HENRY was appointed by extra-constitutional means by a President who had himself overstepped his mandate and without the requisite parliamentary action. His appointment had not been finalized by the time the President was assassinated. Instead, Dr HENRY came to power several days later via an announcement by the CORE Group. The Haitian people opposed him in his role as de facto head of state, with no checks or balances. They repeatedly took to the streets, despite dangerous conditions, to show that Dr. HENRY had no legitimacy in the eyes of the Haitian people. His regime responded with inappropriate force. De facto Prime Minister Dr. Ariel HENRY also faces serious allegations of complicity in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 07, 2021; and his regime has enabled - and probably directly facilitated - the deterioration of the situation in Haiti. For example, while the international community focuses its efforts on supporting the Haitian police, there is evidence of widespread infiltration of the police by gangs and its collusion with gang leaders such as Vitelhomme Innocent. The de facto regime does not represent Haitian interests, has no authority to govern and is responsible for creating and maintaining the Haitian crisis. The de facto regime no longer has the authority to request intervention Therefore, Dr. Ariel HENRY has neither the legitimacy to govern nor the legal authority to request foreign intervention, and should not be considered a credible partner for international peacekeeping efforts.
International military action by the USA, Canada and France in collaboration with the de facto regime will only serve to strengthen the grip of the actors behind the Haitian crisis on the state and oppress the Haitian people.
Foreign military action in partnership with the de facto regime, even if narrowly targeted, will only serve to reinforce the de facto regime's power. It will perpetuate the patterns of state control and impunity that lead to deep misery and insecurity in Haiti, and will reduce the space for Haitian civil society and pro-democracy organizers, making it more difficult for the Haitian people to demand their rights and democracy. We do not believe that lasting security for the Haitian people can be achieved in this way. Foreign interventions in Haiti also have a proven track record of harming civilians without accountability - introducing cholera, injuring or killing civilians and destroying property in military operations, perpetrating acts of sexual exploitation and abuse and leaving victims and the resulting children without resources or recourse, misdirecting aid and providing defective infrastructure.
A legitimate government can act to direct aid flows appropriately and provide adequate guarantees. This de facto government, characterized by corruption and massacres of the people, and also dependent on the international community, has never shown any real interest in establishing a climate of security in Haiti, or in representing the best interests of the Haitian people. These concerns are all the more pressing in view of the inappropriate use of force by state actors and the cholera outbreak currently underway in Kenya, a candidate country for intervention.
The willingness of the international community (the USA, Canada and France) to help Haiti cannot justify knowingly harmful action; true solidarity requires that international players begin by ceasing to support the actors responsible for the Haitian crisis.
International support (from the USA, Canada and France) for the de facto government, to the detriment of national sovereignty and the human rights of the Haitian people, is preventing Haitians from finding a political compromise capable of initiating a transition to democracy and security. The de facto regime exercises an effective veto in favor of the policies of abuse of power that are at the root of the Haitian crisis, as long as it is considered an indispensable player by the international community (the United States, Canada and France). This must stop, so that Haitians themselves can choose leaders and a transitional approach with popular legitimacy. Only then can the international community (the USA, Canada and France) provide meaningful and effective support, which we welcome if it stems from recognition of Haitians as sovereign holders of human rights.
We warn our African cousins and friends not to play into the hands of the imperialist countries (the United States, Canada and France) for crumbs, but to show solidarity with the Haitian people. At the same time, we urge all players to recognize the Haitian people's right to security, dignity and self-determination. It follows from these fundamental human rights principles that foreign military intervention at the behest and for the benefit of an illegitimate, corrupt and repressive de facto regime is perverse and likely to cause serious harm. It will certainly not bring long-term stability to Haiti.
For authentication :
Gardy MAISONNEUVE, Sant Karl Lévêque
Mario JOSEPH, Av., Bureau des Advocates Internationaux (BAI)
David OXYGENE, MOLEGHAF
Organizations & representatives:
Alternative Citoyenne pour la Construction d’un Etat de Droit (ACCED)
Charles Labonté JEAN
Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI)
Mario JOSEPH
Challenger Populaire
Reginald DUMÉ
Ensemble des Citoyens Compétents à la Recherche de l’Egalité des Droits de l’Homme en Haïti (ECCREDHH)
Louimann MACEUS
Etude et Action pour les Droits Humains (EADH)
Montus JOACHIMGwoup 105 (G105)
Nicolas PIERREMouvman Ayiti ap Chanje (MACH)
Axel Pierre Richard TIMOGENE
Mouvement de Liberté d’Egalité des Haïtiens pour la Fraternité (MOLEGHAF)David OXYGENE
Rezo Sivivan Restavèk (RSR)
Mireille Jeune BEAUJOUR
Sant Karl Lévêque (SKL)
Gardy MAISONNEUVE
For more information contact:
Mario JOSEPH, av.
Téléphone : (509) 2943 2106 / 07
Portable et WhatsApp: (509) 3701 9879
Email: mario@ijdh.org / mariohaiti4@gmail.com
Translated by CHIP editors
Posted August 28, 2023