FREE LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE

To:  President of Haiti Rene Preval, and the Brazilian, Canadian, French, US and other UN forces in Haiti

WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE SAFE RETURN OF HAITIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE KIDNAPPED ON 12 AUGUST 2007.
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BACKGROUND

LOVINSKY PIERRE ANTOINE was abducted after meeting with a US-Canadian human rights delegation visiting Haiti. He is an advocate of those with least, especially single mothers and street children. He co-founded Fondayson Trant Septanm for victims of the 1991 and 2004 coups against elected President Aristide.

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, and other concerned people round the world have appealed to Haiti’s President René Préval and to the UN.

WEEKLY VIGILS AND FASTS are being held around the world putting pressure on Brazil, head of UN forces in Haiti, and on the US, Canada and France which organized the 2004 coup.

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 many face 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.

THOUSANDS HAVE SIGNED this petition, including actors Danny Glover, Martin Sheen and Vanessa Redgrave, and author George Lamming.

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WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE SAFE RETURN OF HAITIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE KIDNAPPED ON 12 AUGUST 2007.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The FREE LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE Petition to President of Haiti Rene Preval, and the Brazilian, Canadian, French, US and other UN forces in Haiti was created by and written by Andaiye (Red Thread), Pierre Labossiere (Haiti Action Committee), Margaret Prescod (Women of Color in the Global Women's Strike), Selma James (Global Women's Strike) (womenstrike8m@server101.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.