AN OPEN LETTER TO BAN KI-MOON

AN OPEN LETTER TO BAN KI-MOON

June 16, 2009

Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
U.N. Headquarters
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
New York, NY

Mr. Secretary-General,

We, a group of concerned Haitians, are very disturbed by the appointment of William Jefferson Clinton as the Special U.N. Envoy to Haiti. We, like most Haitians, want UN occupation troops to leave Haiti immediately. Haiti has been a sovereign nation for 205 years and needs no supervision. We would like to obtain from you a clear statement of the mission former President Clinton is expected to accomplish in Haiti as United Nations Emissary.

Is Mr. Clinton going to use his leadership and charm to end Haiti's occupation or to reinforce it?

Mr. Clinton's record as president of the United States of America is not auspicious. The condition of people of African ancestry in his country did not see a net improvement. The jobs he said he created required a person to hold at least two to make ends meet. He considers one of his accomplishments the return of President Aristide, who was elected with a majority never attained by a U.S. president yet overthrown by a U.S.-backed coup. However, Aristide was returned with an army of occupation and an imposed agenda which would never have allowed him to take his people out of poverty.

Mr. Clinton has made it known that his foundation is already in Haiti serving in the areas of health care (AIDS), environment and economic development. He prides himself on having brought garment factories to Haiti. But where is the actual benefit to the country? Should we expect Mr. Clinton to provide Haiti with more of these jobs with miserly salaries that have never, up to now, lifted any citizens of any country out of poverty?

Haiti might be the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere but it is not the most violence-ridden. Nevertheless, Haiti is occupied by a U.N. force which is not able to stop drug trafficking, murders, rapes, kidnappings, or even political persecution.

Mr. William J. Clinton also seems to think that he is the one "suited" to tell the Haitian people who shall be their leaders. We would like to remind him that he is designated to be the emissary to a nation, not its Prime Minister!

If the United Nations and its controllers were serious about improving the condition of Haiti, the country would be provided with electricity in less than a year. Tools would be provided to the peasants who definitely can and want to cultivate their land and produce enough food to feed the entire country. Haiti has mineral resources which can and should benefit the country, not enrich foreign multinationals. These areas can create meaningful and enduring jobs for the citizens of Haiti. Will Mr. Clinton tackle these issues?

Mr. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, we would like to have your answer to these very important questions in a public declaration.

Sincerely,

JEAN STEFAN
for Konbit Ayisyen pou Kore Lit la ann Ayiti (KAKOLA)
(Haitian Coalition to Support the Struggle in Haiti).

RAY LAFOREST
for International Support Haiti Network (ISHN)

ALINA SIXTO, PIERRE FLORESTAL, JEAN BERTRAND LAURENT & MARLENE JEAN-NOEL
for the Lavalas Family - New York Chapter.