A couple of things

Dear No one.

I am not under the illusion that anyone more than an occasional friend or lost internet surfer will read anything I write here. However, I do this for myself.

First, I have co-produced a resolution that was approved by the Haiti-DR Section of the Latin American Studies Association. It will be sent out today, January 12th, to news outfits and stakeholders in Haiti. It follows my signature.

Second, I just submitted something to the KC Star. We'll see if it gets published. If not, I'll post it here.

Policy Statement by LASA Haiti/Dominican Republic Section

Officially Adopted: January 11, 2011

Resolution

April Mayes (Co-chair, Haiti/Dominican Republic Section) and Kiran Jayaram (Co-chair, Haiti/Dominican Republic Section) introduced the following policy statement as a Section resolution. This statement was approved by the membership of the Haiti/Dominican Republic Section of the Latin American Studies Association. Approval of the statement was by a vote of 24 to 1 of the 56 persons in the Section entitled to vote on it. This is not an official policy statement of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA), which neither endorses nor rejects the views expressed.

Whereas the Haiti/Dominican Republic Section (HDRS) of LASA consists of scholars, activists, artists, and other professionals from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and all across the Americas and Europe; and

Whereas the mission of the HDRS of LASA includes the promotion of discussions around sensitive issues and the fostering of civil engagement through public debate; and

Whereas Haiti suffered a 7.0 earthquake on January 12, 2010; and

Whereas this earthquake destroyed almost all government buildings, damaged over 1,000 schools, killed approximately 250,000 people, and left over 1 million people without adequate shelter; and

Whereas this disaster is considered one of the worst in modern history of the world; and

Whereas Haiti is frequently hit by tropical storms and hurricanes like Jeanne (2004), Fay, Gustav, Hannah, and Ike (2008), and Tomas (2010); and

Whereas Haiti was struck by an outbreak of cholera, whereas no documented cases had ever been reported before; and

Whereas to date, over 3,500 people have died and at least 100,000 people have been infected by cholera; and

Whereas severe reservations have been made regarding the reliability of the results of the November 2010 Presidential elections and subsequent electoral measures in Haiti, both in the ability of the population to participate in the process and in the transparency of the process itself; and

Whereas the Dominican Republic holds a strategic position in the reconstruction of Haiti due to its geographic proximity and to the long-standing interconnection of the two countries; and

Whereas the Government and other actors in the Dominican Republic facilitated and provided some of the earliest rescue and relief from the January 12 earthquake, including support for Haitian medical refugees; and

Whereas the Dominican Republic, as a sovereign country, is home to many Haitian migrants, the overwhelming majority who are law-abiding, regardless of legal status, who seek to improve their living condition through work or study; and

Whereas the United States holds a strategic role in the reconstruction of Haiti due to its monetary reserves and to the ever-increasing interconnection between the two countries; and

Whereas the United States, as a sovereign country, is home to many Haitian migrants, the overwhelming majority who are law-abiding, regardless of legal status, and who seek to improve their living condition through work or study; and

Whereas the United Nations holds a strategic role in the reconstruction of Haiti due to its security and administrative personnel in country and to its role in coordinating non-state providers; now therefore let it be

Resolved, That

1. The HDRS urges all governments and organizations operating in Haiti work to support the Haitian government in establishing law, order, and dignity for its citizens after the January 12 earthquake, Hurricane Tomas, cholera, and civil unrest in 2011.

2. The HDRS urges the Government of Haiti to work to establish law and order and provide dignity and basic human rights for its citizens through coordination and cooperation with international partner organizations and governments and by inclusion of a fair and transparent process whereby citizens may participate in governance of their present and future.

3. The HDRS urges the Government of the Dominican Republic to continue to support efforts to restore a dignified life for all people of Haiti.

4. The HDRS urges the Government of the Dominican Republic to stop any and all deportations of Haitians, Haitian Dominicans, or their descendents due to lack of documentation for no less than a period of five years.

5. The HDRS urges the Government of the Dominican Republic to provide legal amnesty and a pathway to citizenship for all Haitians, Haitian-Dominicans, and their descendents who currently reside in the Dominican Republic.

6. The HDRS urges the Government of the United States to fulfill its promises of monetary support made in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake to restore a dignified life for all people of Haiti.

7. The HDRS urges the Government of the United States to stop any and all deportations of Haitians, Haitian Americans, or their descendents due to lack of documentation for no less than a period of five years.

8. The HDRS urges the Government of the United States to provide legal amnesty and a pathway to citizenship for all Haitians, Haitian Americans, and their descendents who currently reside in the United States.

9. The HDRS urges the United Nations to improve its operations so that the human rights of all people of Haiti to receive water, health security, and proper shelter are respected.

10. The HDRS urges the United Nations to properly screen all employees for infectious diseases before allowing them entry into Haiti or any other country where they may work, particularly if the person is coming from an area where known infectious diseases exist or have existed recently.

11. The HDRS urges the United Nations to thoroughly investigate and publicly report the findings on how the cholera outbreak started, including addressing any necessary culpability.

This resolution will be mailed to President Barack Obama (United States), President René Préval (Haiti), Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive (Haiti, Co-chair Interim Haiti Recovery Commission), President Leonel Fernández (Dominican Republic), the Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados y Migrants (SJRM), Former President Bill Clinton (Co-chair, Interim Haiti Recovery Commission), Edmond Mulet (Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of UN Mission in Haiti), Dr. Paul Farmer (UN Special Envoy to Haiti), the New York Times, the Miami Herald, Le Nouvelliste, and Listin Diario.

NOTE: THIS WILL BE TRANSLATED TO KREYÒL AND SPANISH.