IN DEFIANCE OF U.S. OCCUPATION: N. AMERICAN DELEGATION ATTENDS WORKERS CONFERENCE IN HAITI

By Johnnie Stevens and Sharon Black
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

May 6, 2004--The great poet William Cullen Bryant was quoted as saying "truth crushed to earth will rise again." This certainly applies to the situation of Haiti and its workers, despite the almost complete media blockade and distortion of the recent coup in that country and the forced exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

In late April-early May a delegation of U.S. and Canadian union, community, and religious activists traveled to Haiti to break this blockade and gather information about current conditions for Haitian workers. They were invited to attend the conference of the Confederation of Haitian Workers and participate in May Day activities.

Some members of the nine-person delegation were also involved in setting up an "accompaniment project." The project's purpose is to escort and protect those who are now facing death threats or torture because of their support for Aristide and opposition to the coup.

The delegation included: Dave Welsh, a San Francisco Labor Council delegate who helped to pass a resolution condemning the coup; Baltimore City Council member Dr. Kwame O. Abayomi; Johnnie Stevens, International Action Center activist and co-founder of Labor for Repa rations; Mic hael Zinzun, director of the Los Angeles- based Coalition Against Police Abuse; Kevin Skerrett from the research office of the Canadian Union of Pub lic Employees, Canada's biggest union; Dr. Adrianne Aron, a clinical psychologist; Charlie Hinton of the Printers Union from the San Francisco Bay Area; and Sharon Black Ceci, Food and Commercial Workers Local 27 steward and Maryland organizer for the ANSWER coalition.

CONFERENCE EXPOSES HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS

The Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH) is Haiti's biggest labor organization, representing manufacturing, transportation, port, agriculture, construction, education and many other workers. Hundreds of representatives from different areas in Haiti participated in the CTH conference. Debate was passionate and serious as union delegates grappled with developing a strategy on how to proceed in an environment that is now hostile and threatening.

CTH Secretary General Paul Loulou Chery has tremendous charisma and energy. He is serious and determined but has a kind, friendly manner that makes everyone around him feel respected and loved. He speaks with tremendous anger about Andy Apaid, a sweatshop owner who is blocking unionization and a member of The 184 Group that plotted the coup against President Aristide.

The workers of Haiti suffer horribly in the so-called Free Trade Zone and in the sweatshops. Workers are denied water and food rations. Wages are set at the minimum--approximately $1.90 a day. Those who want to join unions are beaten or fired.

The problem of contract workers adds to the difficulties of unionizing. For instance, in the factories now running, 35 workers out of 500 are permanent. The vast majority are now temporary workers. Workers only receive two to three vacation days.

National Committee of Women Workers President Ginette Apoloon speaks with strength and conviction. She told us that health care is virtually absent for workers. Cash payment is required.

In contrast, she said, "Under the Aristide administration there were plans for health-care insurance that paid 50 percent of costs."

She emphasized that the union movement should demand an end to the sexual abuse of women on the job. Women should not be compromised.

Reports are also circulating that Andy Apaid is negotiating to buy the state-owned telephone company, Teleco, and privatize the system.

The level of frustration among the Haitian people is extremely high. Seventy percent of Haiti's population is unemployed. Rice has now doubled in price.

While most Haitians formerly ate one meal a day, it is now reported that people are eating only three times a week. This was repeated by almost everyone the delegation interviewed.

It is clear that the coup and occupation have not brought stability or a better life for the workers, peasants and poor of Haiti.

MURDERS, JAIL, REPRISALS, AND THREATS CONTINUE

A young student discussed how she lost her student status because of her support for Lavalas. "Many students are now in hiding. They have been beaten up and raped", she said.

The Federation of Public Transport Work ers took the delegation to the site of the union's cooperative to show buses that had been burned and destroyed on the evening of the coup. The union's offices were ransacked and their guard overpowered. Julien Atanaze, the first delegate of the union, appealed directly for support from U.S. workers.

Without concern for his own personal safety, he had returned from Miami to defend the union.

In the northern part of Haiti, delegates interviewed Milot Mayor Moises Jean-Charles. He is the also a leader in the peasant movement. He testified about murders and torture in the weeks that preceded the coup.

This area is under the command of Guy Phillipe. People had been rounded up and killed. Hundreds of bodies were reported to have washed up on the shore. Others were locked in shipping containers and denied food and water.

He told us that many Lavalas supporters fled to the mountains. He also fled. Milot asked, "Where did they [the so-called rebels] get the money for helicopters and planes?"

He also remarked, "The Haitian elite also gives a lot of money to the rebels."

In the Cap Haitien area, Cuban doctors have remained to practice medicine. There are 556 Cuban medical personnel in Haiti. Despite dire conditions they continue to provide care to the people free of charge under a Cuban plan that provides solidarity.

AS RESISTANCE CONTINUES, CTH HOLDS MAY DAY RALLY

With U.S. troops patrolling just a block away, the CTH held a defiant May Day rally.

It was clear to U.S. and Canadian delegates that the U.S. troops dominated their Haitian counterparts. They were more numerous. They conducted the checks at the intersection.

According to eyewitness reports, U.S. military personnel have killed six people. But there have been no arrests or actions against the U.S. forces.

In one case a person was using a cell phone and was shot to death. In another incident, a Haitian driver who spoke only Creole did not heed a command to stop and was gunned down.

Workers gathered to hear speeches and commemorated May Day by pledging to strengthen their union movement. They see the fight against the coup and international solidarity as the key.

At the rally, U.S. delegates sang "Soli darity Forever" with fervor and meaning. Haitian workers cheered.

One Haitian worker summed up the anger that is felt so deeply. He repeated with conviction and pain: "This is a shame! This is a shame! We just celebrated 200 years of independence and now we are occupied by the U.S. and French military."

He continued: "1804 means a lot of things to Black people. It is a model of freedom. The coup means shame!"

Future in-depth reports, including a special interview with Haiti Progres and PPN, will follow.