A letter to my MP, John Harvard

Dear Mr. Harvard:

I am shocked at the participation of Canada in the U.S.-led coup in Haiti.That Canadian troops were stationed at the airport when, according to a concierge, the democraticallyelected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was forced from his houseat gunpoint, and whisked out of the country in one of the well-knownwhite CIA planes with green stripes, is particularly disturbing.

It ismore than obvious from press reports, and despite official denial,that President Aristide did not resign, but was abducted. Last weekit was reported in the Miami Herald that bodyguards and security forAristide were blocked from leaving the U.S. in preparation for the coup.Further reports confirm that there is no longer contact with him by cell-phone, meaning that Aristide's life may be in grave danger.

We know that since his election, Aristide's government funded andbuilt schools, health and AIDS clinics, and set up various cooperativeventures and self-help initiatives. These initiatives were made possibledespite a cruel blockade put into place by American pressure, and withextra funds made available when abolishing an expensive and uselessmilitary. These worthy deeds, apparently, have incurred the wrath ofPresident Bush.

Since when does a Prime Minister of Canada support U.S.-funded deathsquads over a democratically-elected man who abolished his own armyin the name of peace? Since when does a Canadian government preferto install dictatorships in the Third World instead of building democracies?In one fell swoop Paul Martin is destroying all the care and compassionthis country has stood for over the decades.

So what's next? Is Canadagoing to stand by and say nothing when the U.S. moves against thedemocratically-elected government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela? Worse,are we going to participate in that venture of building “democracy” as well?

What a sad day when one hears reactionary American politicianstouting Canada's complicity in Haiti as justification for U.S. policies there.

Is Paul Martin a statesman and a liberal, or a right-wing extremist?

On its bicentenary the people of Haiti deserve support and compassion, not further enslavement!

I urge you to show some humanity and speak out against these horrors.Speak out for the safety and return of the elected representative of theHaitian people!

We have every right to expect that you and other concerned Membersof Parliament, do not sit quietly while all this takes place.

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