By Tom Luce | President, Hurah Inc. (Human Rights Accompaniment In Haiti)
October 3, 2007—Today, I finished translating the testimony of hundreds of victims of U.S.-backed political killings, kidnappings, house burnings and rapes from 2002 to 2005.
These people have been left alone by the authorities — even the newly elected government — hamstrung by a judiciary holdover from the U.S.-backed illegal government from 2004 to 2006.
The Association of University Students Committed to a Haiti with Rights or AUMOHD (pronounced oh-mode) , a young, non-violent, non-partisan Haitian human rights advocacy group responded to the Central Plateau victims in August and took several testimonies from eyewitnesses and those who know the perpetrators well: convicted criminals like Louis-Jodel Chamblain and accused coup specialist Guy Philippe, supported by CIA funding.
These are the people who led a bogus "rebellion" against former Haitian President Jean-Bertrande Aristide and who were praised as freedom fighters by the interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, a U.S.-sponsored persecutor of his political enemies. AUMOHD is launching a campaign to bring justice to these cases.
Imagine these people and the children and family members who have been left without any support and without any ability to work.
Their plight is a direct result of the U.S. boycott and other financial institutions that refused to give Haiti financial aid in a move to undermine Aristide’s administration. All the millions of dollars from the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy that were poured into opposition parties in Haiti didn't convince the majority of Haitians to rebel against the president.
This is my 28th day on a juice fast for the passage of the Jubilee Act (HR 2634).
I'm taking my medication for low thyroid and vitamins. I don't intend to induce starvation effects. Instead, I have found, as I have regularly, that fasting is a healthy practice.
I've lost 25 lbs, all overweight, lowered my blood pressure and triglycerides, and the swelling of a leg. I've left all caffeine behind. I'm clearer headed. But most importantly, thanks to Jubilee USA's inspiration, I have been able to get back to the basics of my body consciousness, and my spiritual values.
The fundamental questions of what we really need to eat, to survive, what is most important in life—these are the questions that fasting has helped me to revise and strengthen. As I head into my 70th year in May, I hope to be able to continue working for the poor.
Readers should know that AUMOHD does all its work "pro bono" at great personal deprivation.
My organization, Hurah Inc. provides them with a minimal amount of money for transportation, for phones, for food for victims. And we support volunteer accompaniment to be with them in the trenches. Take a look at our website, http://www.hurah.revolt.org and learn of their work with other massacre victims and street kid abuse. There is a way online to donate. Google doesn't charge any fee till January 2008.
Today, Friday October 5, mark’s the 30th day of Tom’s fast. You can contact him via email.
The new AUMOHD human rights report on the Plateau Central is excellent. I encourage everyone to read it, it will be up soon on http://www.haitianalysis.com
Posted by: Jeb Sprague | 06 October 2007 at 09:28 AM