Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

This is the one-year anniversary of Lovinsky’s being ‘disappeared’ - his family, community and all those working for justice need him back.  Actions are being planned in Haiti and in a number of other cities and countries, part of global efforts pressing for Lovinsky’s immediate safe return. UN forces, led by Brazil, have been occupying Haiti since the first democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide, was forced to leave the country by US Marines in 2004. Come ask the government of Brazil, ‘What progress in finding Mr. Pierre-Antoine and securing his release has been made by Brazil which, as head of the UN forces in Haiti, has taken responsibility for law and order there?’

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, internationally respected Haitian human rights activist, is an advocate of those with the least, especially single mothers and street children.  He co-founded Fondayson Trant Sepanm for survivors of the 1991 and 2004 coups that removed Haiti’s democratically elected President Jean Bertrand Aristide.  Lovinsky was abducted after meeting with a US Human rights delegation the evening of August 12, 2007.  Beloved father, community organizer and member of President Aristide’s Lavalas movement, Lovinsky represents the revolutionary courage and resilience of the Haitian people.

Amnesty International has issued two reports for Lovinsky’s return and for the safety of his colleague Wilson Mésilien.  British Member of Parliament John McDonnell has put forward an Early Day Motion, similar to a Congressional Resolution, signed by 23 MPs.  Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Pax Cristi International, actors Danny Glover, Martin Sheen, Vanessa Redgrave and concerned people from every continent have appealed to the UN and to Haitian President René Préval to intensify efforts to find Lovinsky.  Weekly vigils and fasts are being held around the world putting pressure on Brazil, and on the US, Canada and France which organized the 2004 Coup. (Note this will be the only LA vigil in August – weekly vigils here will resume in September.)    The world owes a huge debt is owed to the Haitian people. Their 1804 revolution was the first to overthrow slavery making the way for emancipation throughout the region and strengthening liberation movements everywhere. Haiti directly aided South American liberator Simon Bolivar. But Haiti paid for its victory. France imposed a crippling debt forcing Haiti to pay for its loss of slaves. 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 the impoverished population, and from the destruction of local agriculture to make way for US rice. With food price increases, many now face starvation. But the people of Haiti have never given up, and Lovinsky represents their resistance and determination.

Sign the petition for Lovinsky at http://www.petitiononline.com/lovinsky/petition.html.

Called by the Ad Hoc Working Group for Haiti:  CISPES/LA, Global Women’s Strike/LA, International Action Center/LA, Northeast LA Radical Neighbors, Women of Color in the Global Women’s Strike, and other concerned individuals.

Endorsers to date: ANSWER-LA, Haiti Action Committee, Office of the Americas

Check out the new blog http://www.lovinsky.org, also www.Haitisolidarity.net, www.globalwomenstrike.net  

Also: Danny Glover speaking about Lovinksy last November on You Tube.