11820 West Youth Camp Road
Columbus IN 47201 USA
S.E. President Jean Bertrand Aristide
Président de la Républic d’Haiti
Présidence de la République d’Haiti
Palais National, Champ de Mars
Port au Prince, Haiti
20 June 2002
Your Excellency,
I write to express my profound concern about the arbitrary arrest and continued detention without charge of nine people who participated in a union rally at the Guacimal plantation near St. Raphael on 27 May 2002. A list of their names is enclosed.
I understand that Mme. Eduoard and Mme. Jean are detained at the Fort National women’s prison. The seven men are at the National Penitentiary.
- I seek your intervention to secure the immediate and unconditional release of each of those named. They remain imprisoned solely because they have exercised their basic rights to peaceful association and assembly as guaranteed in the 1987 Constitution, and because they have demanded minimum working conditions and benefits as set out in Haiti’s Labour Code.
- I call for an immediate, independent, and thorough investigation into the murder of two peasant workers on 27 May at Guacimal. The findings of this inquiry should be made fully public and those found responsible must be brought promptly to justice.
- Further, I urge you to launch a broad, thorough, and independent commission of inquiry to investigate the peasant/workers’ situation and, in particular, the appalling events of 27 May. This commission should be responsible for justice and compensation for all victims of the tragedy at Guacimal.
- I call for an immediate end to the ongoing acts of intimidation and harassment against the peasant/workers as they rightfully organize in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and all international human rights and labour laws.
- Finally, I urge you to ensure that secure conditions are established so that the peasant/workers may return to their place of work.
Please understand that my concern is in no way political. I know you share my belief that we all share basic human rights, and that we also bear the responsibility to protect these rights wherever they are violated. I have a deep and long standing love for your country and her people: you may be assured of my continuing close interest in the welfare of the victims at Guacimal.
Thank you for your attention and prompt action in this grave and urgent matter.
Yours respectfully,
Sarah Kramer, Columbus Peace Fellowship, and
Friends of Haiti, Columbus
Copies to: Batay Ouvriye, Haiti Support Group
31 Cours Emile Zola.
69100 Villeurbanne/Lyon. France.
Tél : 33 4 72 44 24 99 / Fax : 33 4 78 93 33 53
E-mail : agir-ensemble@asi.fr
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Madame Dominique HERIARD DUBREUIL
Présidente
SOCIETE REMY-COINTREAU
152 avenue des Champs-Elysées
75008 PARIS
Villeurbanne, le 9 janvier 2002
Madame la Présidente,
Votre société se procure l'un des produits essentiels à la fabrication de sa liqueur dans les plantations d'oranges amères, en Haïti.
Vous n'ignorez pas les nombreuses difficultés rencontrées par le syndicat des ouvriers de Guacimal pour parvenir à négocier une augmentation des salaires et une amélioration des conditions de travail avec leur direction.
Vous aviez répondu à un précédent appel de Réseau-Solidarité (10, quai de Richemont, 35000 Rennes) avec lequel nous sommes en relation en affirmant votre souci permanent de respecter les principes humanitaires fondamentaux en toute circonstance.
Le 26 novembre 2001, une représentante de l'organisation Batay Ouvriyé a rencontré Monsieur Yannick Etienne, lui a rappelé la situation et a insisté pour que votre société apporte son appui au développement de la zone environnante à la plantation (infrastructures, école, alphabétisation, dispensaire). Elle a aussi demandé qu'un représentant de Rémy-Cointreau soit envoyé sur place pour initier un processus de négociation, avec la médiation de représentants syndicaux de votre société et d'organisations de solidarité internationale.
Cependant il apparaît qu'aujourd'hui la situation au sein de Guacimal a encore empiré alors que la cueillette doit reprendre dans quelques semaines.
Je ne doute pas que vous vous attacherez à répondre aux propositions de Batay Ouvriyé en intervenant rapidement et efficacement pour que le dialogue social en Haïti soit à la hauteur de la réputation de votre entreprise.
Comptant sur votre compréhension, et espérant être prochainement informé de l'avancement des négociations, je vous prie de recevoir, Madame la Présidente, l'assurance de ma considération distinguée.
André BARTHELEMY
Président
Membre de la Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l'Homme
Received: from WillRusk@aol.com
Sun, 2 Jun 2002 21:29:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: WillRusk@aol.com
Subject: Guacimal in St. Raphael
To: MKarshan@aol.com, palaisnationaljp@yahoo.com, batayouvriye@hotmail.com
Dear President Aristide,
Please take action to stop violence against union members and their supporters and, also, to ensure that those unionists and journalists who have been arrested are quickly released.
Also, please ensure that an independent investigation into the violence is conducted and that freedom of assembly, in accordance with the constitution of Haiti, is respected and permitted.
Having taught Labor Law at De Paul University School of Law, in Chicago, where, as I recall, you spoke about fifteen years ago, I feel somewhat "close" to this situation.
I greatly appreciate your attention.
Sincerely,
Elliott M. Abramson,
Professor of Law (Ret.)
Date: 22 Feb 2002 14:44:08 -0500
Subject: SETTLE WITH HAITIAN WORKERS *NOW*!!!
From: grok <grok@sprint.ca>
To: olivier.charriaud@remy-cointreau.com
Cc: haitisupport@gn.apc.org
HEY Charriaud!!
Many months ago I wrote to you people about honoring the labor rights of, and RESPECTING your Haitian workers -- and I got a HUGE email 'reply' from you. It was nothing more than your COMPANY PROPAGANDA in MS 'PowerPoint' format. Some SNOWJOB that was. Didn't fool me in the LEAST.
Now I see that you CONTINUE to abuse your Haitian workers -- even assault and threaten them -- what? No more Ton Ton Macoutes around to kill people???
You had BETTER shape up -- or we'll see to it that you DON"T DO VERY MUCH BUSINESS IN NORTH AMERICA!! Capisce??
Waiting on you people to be REASONABLE -- and not just plain GREEDY -- is clearly a WASTE OF TIME.
Jim W. Jaszewski.
Canada.
