I would like to thank the government and the people of South Africa for the historic hospitality, deeply rooted in Ubuntu, extended to my family and I.<\/p>\n
Since my forced arrival in the Mother Continent six and a half years ago, the people of Haiti have never stopped calling for my return to Haiti. Despite the enormous challenges that they face in the aftermath of the deadly January 12, 2010 earthquake, their determination to make the return happen has increased.<\/p>\n
As far as I am concerned, I am ready. Once again I express my readiness to leave today, tomorrow, at any time. The purpose is very clear: To contribute to serving my Haitian sisters and brothers as a simple citizen in the field of education.<\/p>\n
The return is indispensable, too, for medical reasons: It is strongly recommended that I not spend the coming winter in South Africa because in 6 years I have undergone 6 eye surgeries. The surgeons are excellent and very well skilled, but the unbearable pain experienced in the winter must be avoided in order to reduce any risk of further complications and blindness.<\/p>\n
So, to all those asking me to return home, I reiterate my willingness to leave today, tomorrow, at any time. Let us hope that the Haitian and South African governments will enter into communication in order to make that happen in the next coming days.<\/p>\n
United to the Haitian people, once again my family and I express our sincere gratitude to the government and the people of South Africa.<\/p>\n
Dr Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former president of Haiti, 19 January 2011<\/p>\n
*****************<\/p>\n
AN URGENT CALL: RETURN FORMER PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE TO HAITI Signed by hundreds of people, it demands that the United States, the United Nations and the Haitian government stop blocking President Aristide from returning to the land of his birth.<\/p>\n In the aftermath of the terrible earthquake that shook Haiti on January 12th, 2010, calls for the return of former President Aristide have been growing louder. Last July 15, 10,000 people took to the streets in Port-au-Prince to commemorate President Aristide\u2019s birthday and call for his return. A broad sector of Haitian grassroots organizations, women\u2019s groups, human rights activists and educators have made it clear that now is the time to end President Aristide\u2019s forced exile in South Africa. A petition circulating among Haitian women gathered well over 20,000 signatures within a few days, calling for the return.<\/p>\n President Aristide has publicly stated that he wishes to return home to Haiti to participate in Haiti\u2019s recovery. President Aristide\u2019s support among Haiti\u2019s poor, who elected him twice as president, and who represent the vast majority of the Haitian population and are those most affected by the recent devastating earthquake, remains strong. There are no legal obstacles to his return; in fact Article 41 of Haiti\u2019s Constitution, declares that \u201cno individual of Haitian nationality can be deported or forced to leave the country for any reason whatsoever,\u201d and Article 41-1 states that \u201cno Haitian needs a visa to leave the country or to return to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, President Aristide remains in exile because the Haitian government, the United States, France, Canada, and the United Nations forces in Haiti have blocked his return. The Haitian government has not responded to President Aristide\u2019s request for the issuance of a passport. U.S. and UN officials have issued public statements opposing his return.<\/p>\n But they do not speak for the people of Haiti. As demonstrations for President Aristide\u2019s return continue in Haiti, as broad sectors of Haitian society echo this call, as the voices of those living in refugee camps across the devastated city of Port-au-Prince and throughout Haiti reach us, we reiterate and support their demand.<\/p>\n We call on the Haitian government to immediately renew President Aristide\u2019s passport as he has requested, and to facilitate his return, without any conditions, to the country of his birth. We call on the international authorities, particularly the United Nations and the United States government, to end their opposition to President Aristide\u2019s return. Justice, humanity and respect for self-determination are at the heart of this issue. All hands are needed in Haiti at this difficult moment.<\/p>\n \u2022 Andaiye, International Coordinator, Red Thread * Antonio Carlos da Silva Rosa, Editor, TRANSCEND Media Service-TMS http:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/ Jean-Bertrand Aristide\u2019s letter was published by http:\/\/www.hayti.net\/tribune\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n SIGN THE PETITION AT http:\/\/www.petitiononline.com\/haitiwom\/petition-sign.html<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>
\nWe are honoured to forward this full-page ad that appeared today [26 Jan 2011] in the Miami Herald, echoing the call of Haiti\u2019s democratic movement for the return of President Aristide.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Harry Belafonte, Actor\/Activist
\n\u2022 Dr. Paul Farmer
\n\u2022 Eduardo Galeano, journalist, author, Uruguay
\n\u2022 Danny Glover, Actor\/Activist
\n\u2022 Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Archdiocese of Detroit
\n\u2022 Selma James, Global Women\u2019s Strike
\n\u2022 Reverend Jesse Jackson
\n\u2022 Tony Jeanthenor, Veye Yo, Miami, FL
\n\u2022 Farah Juste, artist\/activist, Miami, FL
\n\u2022 Pierre Labossiere, co-founder, Haiti Action Committee
\n\u2022 Margaret Prescod, Women of Color\/Global Women\u2019s Strike
\n\u2022 Randall Robinson, author
\n\u2022 Alina Sixto, radio host, Fanmi Lavalas
\n\u2022 Oliver Stone, Filmmaker
\n\u2022 Kali Akuno, Malclom X Grassroots Movement
\n\u2022 Bernadene Allen, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, College of Marin
\n\u2022 Roger Annis, Canada Haiti Action Network
\n\u2022 Dr. Molefi Asante, Department of African American Studies, Temple University
\n\u2022 Orlando Aupont, Multi-Cultural Family Nexus
\n\u2022 John Avalos, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
\n\u2022 Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice
\n\u2022 David Bacon, Labor activist, photojournalist
\n\u2022 Medea Benjamin, CODE PINK
\n\u2022 Brian Becker, National Coordinator, ANSWER
\n\u2022 Dennis Bernstein, KPFA Flashpoints
\n\u2022 Johanna Berrigan, House of Grace Catholic Worker
\n\u2022 Steve Bingham, Attorney
\n\u2022 Annie Bird, co-Director, Rights Action
\n\u2022 Hugo Blanco, La Lucha Ind\u00edgena, Per\u00fa
\n\u2022 Blase Bonpane, Ph.D, Director, Office of the Americas
\n\u2022 Serge Bouchereau, educator activist, Canada
\n\u2022 Fr. Roy Bourgeois, founder, SOA Watch
\n\u2022 John H. Bracey, Jr., Professor, University of Massachusetts
\n\u2022 Rev. Dr. Lea Brown, MCC Church
\n\u2022 Richard Brown, San Francisco 8\/Committee for Defense of Human Rights
\n\u2022 Dr. Siri Brown, Chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Merritt College, Oakland
\n\u2022 Keith Carson, Alameda County Board of Supervisors
\n\u2022 Mike Casey, President of Local 2, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union and President of SF Labor Council
\n\u2022 Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua, President, National Council for Black Studies
\n\u2022 Ward Churchill, author, educator
\n\u2022 Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
\n\u2022 Marjorie Cohn, Deputy Secretary General International Association of Democratic Lawyers
\n\u2022 Brian Concannon, Jr., Esq., Director, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
\n\u2022 Rabbi David J. Cooper
\n\u2022 Peter Dahlen, President, Labor Arbitration Institute
\n\u2022 Ezili Dant\u00f2, President, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
\n\u2022 Bob and Adele DellaValle-Rauth, Coordinators Pax Christi Virginia
\n\u2022 Jacques M F Depelchin, Ota Benga Alliance for Peace, Healing and Dignity
\n\u2022 Jean-Claude Derose, Haitian activist, Canada
\n\u2022 Tom F. Driver, The Paul J. Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary in New York
\n\u2022 Emory Douglas, artist, former Minister of Culture, Black Panther Party
\n\u2022 Sister Maureen Duignan, OSF, Executive Director, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant \u2022 Berthony Dupont, director, Haiti Liberte
\n\u2022 Claudio Duran, Professor of History, Merritt College
\n\u2022 James Early, board member, Institute for Policy Studies
\n\u2022 Matt Eisenbrandt, Human Rights Attorney
\n\u2022 Joe Emersberger, editor, haitianalysis.com
\n\u2022 Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam
\n\u2022 Moira Feeney Esq., Attorney at Law
\n\u2022 Leslie Fleming, Professor of Anthropology, Merritt College
\n\u2022 Bill Fletcher, Jr., BlackCommentator.com
\n\u2022 Sara Flounders, International Action Center
\n\u2022 Laura Flynn, writer, educator
\n\u2022 Willy Forges, Haitian activist, Canada
\n\u2022 Harry Fouche, former Consul General of Haiti to NY
\n\u2022 Nancy M. Friedman, Bay Area Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
\n\u2022 Paul George, Director, Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, Palo Alto, CA
\n\u2022 David Gespass, President, National Lawyers Guild
\n\u2022 Ann Fagan Ginger, attorney & author, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
\n\u2022 Jackie Goldberg, California State Assembly Member, Chair of Assembly Education Committee, retired
\n\u2022 Sister Stella Goodpasture, OP, Justice Promoter, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
\n\u2022 Rashidah Grinage, Executive Director of PUEBLO (People United for a Better Life in Oakland)
\n\u2022 Peter Hallward, Professor of Philosophy, Kingston University London
\n\u2022 Peter Hardie, Executive Director, Pushback Network
\n\u2022 Tom Hayden, Peace and Justice Resource Center, Culver City, CA
\n\u2022 Ed Herman, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
\n\u2022 Aileen Hernandez, community activist, first woman on EEOC
\n\u2022 Gerald Horne, historian and author
\n\u2022 Phil Hutchings, Civil Rights activist (SNCC), Black Alliance for Just Immigration
\n\u2022 Nehanda Imara, All-African People\u2019s Revolutionary Party
\n\u2022 Kim Ives, filmmaker & journalist with Haiti Libert\u00e9
\n\u2022 Rabbi Burt Jacobson
\n\u2022 Jafrikayiti (Jean Saint-Vil), author
\n\u2022 Baba Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma\u2019at, past National Co-Chair of N\u2019COBRA
\n\u2022 Borgella Jeantine, Konbit Verite
\n\u2022 Frantz Jerome, educator, activist
\n\u2022 Avotcja Jilconilro, artist
\n\u2022 Linton Kwesi Johnson, reggae poet, & recording artist, Jamaica\/UK
\n\u2022 Charles Jones, Professor, Department of African American Studies, Georgia State University
\n\u2022 Hank Jones, SF 8\/Committee for the Defense of Human Rights
\n\u2022 Rose-Marie Joseph, Baz Fanmi Lavalas
\n\u2022 Marie-Claire Junelle, Public Health educator, Montreal, Canada
\n\u2022 Hekima Kanyama, Acting Center Director, Unity Council of the African Community Center for Unity and Self-Determination\/Atlanta
\n\u2022 Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor of Africana Studies, California State University, Long Beach.
\n\u2022 Michelle Karshan, Haiti Dream Keeper Archives
\n\u2022 Susan Roberta Katz, Professor of International & Multicultural Education, University of San Francisco
\n\u2022 Katharine Kean, filmmaker
\n\u2022 Nunu Kidane, director, Priority Africa Network
\n\u2022 Jonathan Kozol, National Book Award-winning author and educator
\n\u2022 Ira Kurzban, Esq.
\n\u2022 Eusi Kwayana, teacher, activist, author, Guyana
\n\u2022 Ronald Laborde, RALIH, Haitian youth organization, Montreal, Canada
\n\u2022 Marilyn Langlois, community advocate, Mayor\u2019s Office, Richmond, CA
\n\u2022 Dr. Frantz Latour, editor, Haiti Liberte
\n\u2022 Rev. James Lawson, United Methodist pastor, civil rights activist
\n\u2022 Rev. Phil Lawson, Interfaith Program Director for East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO)
\n\u2022 Jacques Elie Leblanc, columnist, Haiti Liberte
\n\u2022 Gerald Lenoir, Director, Black Alliance for Just Immigration
\n\u2022 Dr. Mark Lomax, First African Presbyterian Church
\n\u2022 Nina Lopez-Jones, Global Women\u2019s Strike
\n\u2022 Picard Losier, Esq., Philadelphia, PA
\n\u2022 Sharon Losier, Esq., Philadelphia, PA
\n\u2022 Chokwe Lumumba, Esq., Member, City Council, Jackson, Mississippi
\n\u2022 Ian Macdonald, Queen\u2019s Counsel, UK
\n\u2022 Mosh\u00e9 Machover, Professor Emeritus, University of London, UK
\n\u2022 Eric Mar, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
\n\u2022 Frank Martin del Campo, President, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement-AFL-CIO, San Francisco
\n\u2022 John McDonnell, Member of Parliament, UK
\n\u2022 Gayle McGlaughlin, Mayor of Richmond, CA
\n\u2022 Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman, 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate
\n\u2022 Rose-Marie Milford, Konbit Pou Fanm Lakay, Canada
\n\u2022 Paul W. Miller, Director, Haiti Justice Alliance, Northfield, Minnesota
\n\u2022 Tom Miller Esq., General Counsel, Global Exchange
\n\u2022 Judith Mirkinson, San Francisco Women\u2019s International League for Peace and Freedom
\n\u2022 Alejandro Molina, Secretary, Board of Directors, Puerto Rican Cultural Center
\n\u2022 George Monpremier, Fanmi Lavalas NY
\n\u2022 Darryl Moore, City Council, Berkeley, CA
\n\u2022 Joia S. Mukherjee, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Partners In Health
\n\u2022 Mumia Abu-Jamal, journalist\/author
\n\u2022 Karen Musalo, Clinical Professor of Law & Director, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, University of California, Hastings College of the Law
\n\u2022 Gus Newport, former Mayor, Berkeley, CA
\n\u2022 Marlene A. Noel, Fanmi Lavalas NY
\n\u2022 Pedro Noguera, Ph.D, Professor, Steinhardt School of Education, N.Y.U.
\n\u2022 Kiilu Nyasha, host of Freedom is a Constant Struggle
\n\u2022 Tim Paulson, Executive Director, San Francisco Labor Council
\n\u2022 Fritzner Pierre, Dyalog Popil\u00e8 (Popular Dialogue)
\n\u2022 Wadner Pierre, journalist, Inter-Press Service
\n\u2022 Kevin Pina, educator and filmmaker \u2022 Honorable Jim Prola, San Leandro City Councilmember
\n\u2022 Eric Quezada, Immigration and Human Rights Activist, Executive Director of Dolores Street Community Services \u2022 William Quigley, Esq., Center for Constitutional Rights, Professor of Law, Loyola New Orleans Law School
\n\u2022 Maisha Quint, Eastside Arts Alliance
\n\u2022 Barbara Ransby, Professor of History and African American Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago
\n\u2022 Karen Ranucci, journalist
\n\u2022 Kate Raphael, KPFA Women\u2019s Magazine
\n\u2022 Mary & Willie Ratcliff, editor and publisher, San Francisco Bay View
\n\u2022 Laura Raymond, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Center for Constitutional Rights
\n\u2022 Barbara Rhine, Attorney
\n\u2022 Blanche Richardson, Marcus Books
\n\u2022 Dr. Rae Richardson, Marcus Books
\n\u2022 Walter Riley, Attorney, Chair of Board, Haiti Emergency Relief Fund
\n\u2022 William I Robinson, Sociology Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
\n\u2022 Jamala Rogers, Organization for Black Struggle, St Louis, MO
\n\u2022 Nicolas Rossier, independent filmmaker and journalist \u2022 Maggie Ronayne, Acting Head of Archaeology, National University of Ireland
\n\u2022 Lisa Roth, co-founder San Francisco Dyke March
\n\u2022 Robert Roth, co-founder, Haiti Action Committee
\n\u2022 Grahame Russell, co-director, Rights Action
\n\u2022 Natsu Taylor Saito, Professor of Law, Georgia State University College of Law
\n\u2022 Carolyn S. Scarr, Ecumenical Peace Institute\/CALC: program coordinator
\n\u2022 Amilcar Shabazz, Chair, W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies University of Massachusetts
\n\u2022 Susan Scott, co-Chair, International Committee, National Lawyers Guild
\n\u2022 Jean Senat-Fleury, Av., Former Juge d\u2019Instruction, Haiti and Former Academic Director of the Haitian Magistrates\u2019 Academy
\n\u2022 Dan Siegel, Attorney, former president of Oakland School Board
\n\u2022 Judy Somberg, Esq., Chair, National Lawyers Guild, Task Force on the Americas
\n\u2022 Jean Sorel, Haitian activist, Canada
\n\u2022 Jeb Sprague, University of California, Santa Barbara
\n\u2022 Larry Stephens, Chair of African American Caucus (AFRAM) of Service Employees Union Local 1021 \u2022 James B. Stewart, Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, former President of National Council of Black Studies
\n\u2022 Irwin Stotsky, Esq.
\n\u2022 Lisa Sullivan, Latin America Coordinator, SOA Watch
\n\u2022 Phil Taylor, \u201cThe Taylor Report\u201d CIUT 89.5 Toronto.
\n\u2022 Makani Themba-Nixon, Executive Director, The Praxis Project
\n\u2022 Michael Theriault, Secretary Treasurer, San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council
\n\u2022 Bret Thiele, International Human Rights Lawyer
\n\u2022 Lucie Tondreau, Caribbean Pan-African Network
\n\u2022 Walter Turner, Professor of History and Ethnic Studies, College of Marin, host\/Africa Today, KPFA
\n\u2022 Franklin Ulysse, political analyst, Canada
\n\u2022 Akinyele Umoja, Professor of African American History, Georgia State University
\n\u2022 Unity Council of the African Community Center for Unity and Self-Determination\/Atlanta
\n\u2022 James E Vann, Community Activist & Co-founder, Oakland Tenants Union
\n\u2022 Dave Welsh, Letter Carriers Union #214 and delegate, SF Labor Council
\n\u2022 Sam Weinstein, Assistant to the President, Utility Workers Union of America
\n\u2022 Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research
\n\u2022 Burton Victor Wides, Esq., Former Counsel to President Carter for Oversight of U.S. Intelligence Activities, Former Washington, D.C. counsel to the Constitutional Government of Haiti
\n\u2022 Raymond A. Winbush, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Urban Research, Morgan State University
\n\u2022 Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Pastor Emeritus, TRINITY UCC, Chicago, Illinois
\n\u2022 Karen Zapata, Teachers for Social Justice
\n\u2022 Joe Zelenka, Chairperson. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Haiti Committee, President, Board of Directors, Parish Twinning Program of the Americas
\n\u2022 Benjamin Zephaniah, writer, poet, UK<\/p>\n
\n__________________<\/p>\n