Abahlali baseMjondolo Report on the AbM Event for the 3rd International Day In Support of the Haitian People

Abahlali baseMjondolo Report on the AbM Event for the 3rd International Day In Support of the Haitian People

Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: Old and afraid of the world outside

Comrades!

As we are going to sleep today, most of us who have watched the video of the suffering of the people of Haiti, as strong as we are, can not enjoy the food that we are lucky to eat, not to mention our inner peace. Abahlali as a Movement would be guilty of a serious offence if today it can not think critical about what needs to be done to stand in Solidarity with the people of Haiti. As today the World enters the 3rd International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People.

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA. is the World on its own. Hence our members are made out of all four aspects of life that is the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, the Movement is so concern about the struggle in Haiti. I have tried to capture some of the comments in that deep discussion after the video show on the questions such as what did people feel about the situation in Haiti? What can human beings do about this? What can the Movement do? What can SA as a country do?, What needs to be done? Suppose this was our own scenario, what can we do? A lot of discussion was generated. Some of the responses were as follow:

Zodwa: We are concerned as a Movement, can’t we write letters to the Haitian government and secretary general of the UN and express our deepest concerns about this inhumanity. This is so painful that we can keep quite about it.

Louisa: It sounds that this situation will finally coming to SA, but why is our country quiet about this. It is said that our own peace icons like Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and others are not saying anything, the SA media does not say anything.

System: This is so touching if we can hear direct from them, what form of support or help will they want from us. May be we should hear direct from them what is their constitution like, does it allow them to march or not, then we can assist and advice them on our own experience.

Mazwi: I do not see the people of Haiti. I see my sisters, my brothers, my mother and my father. I can not be silenced because this video is not seen in SA. I am sure it started slowly and softly like How Senior Superintended Glen Nayager of Sydenham SA Police brutalizes Abahlali. It may be coming to us.

Fanwell: I think we should consider contacting the Haitian Embasy in SA and invite him/her to Abahlali meetings and have a discussion with him/her, so that we tell him or her how concern Abahlali are with UN/US invasion of Haiti without the will of its citizens. Let us share this video with this embassy. It is clear that the UN is controlled by the US. We should tackle this issue with the highest possible level, let us approach International Court of Justice and see how far we can go in support and defence of democracy in Haiti.

Mafelubala: We need to set up a mass prayer and mobilize our communities and pray in our individual space. This is so touching. We still believe to the Only God of the Universe that one day things will change.

Mzi: I feel so bad about this video, let us not see this pain as an isolated evidence of an attack against the poor. We do not know how it got started, may be it is the same battle that we are waging. I feel we should raise funds for them, each cent will count to support them.

Each member vows to write some solidarity message for the support of the oppressed, each member vows to take this picture and information to their churches to share it to all members of the church and ask every one to pray. Some will take it to their schools and those studying at the UKZN will do like wise. On the 21 March Abahlali vows to mourn the violation of Human Right in Haiti as SA celebrates its Human Right Day. The Movement will conscientise the people of SA about the slaughtering of the Haitian people by UN/US forces. Its is so disturbing having seen murdering of babies, young children and women in a war of this nature. The world is not doing enough to condemn the killing of innocents. Who gains out of this blood shed? Who feels proud of governing a country of pain, slaughtering and death? Maybe none from the poor amongst the indigenous people of Haiti, maybe the rich working with someone from outside Haiti? Haiti please wake up, be careful of the real third force. Members felt they do not have so much to fight for peace and justice in Haiti but at least each member is so ready to reach spiritual, clean in hands, committed to peace and justice.

With all our hearts, love, strength, ears, eyes, prayer etc we will do what ever we can to contribute to peace and justice to all who suffers the brutality of injustices in Haiti, Kenya, Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the world. Amandla is still yours to overcome the evil oppression. We want to further salute those who are working hard taking pictures, information, sending the video over and keep the world informed.

Compiled by S’bu Zikode
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement in South Africa

Visit Haiti Solidarity at http://www.haitisolidarity.net, Haiti Action at http://www.haitiaction.net and Haitian Analysis at http://www.haitianalysis.com.

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