Bright and early this morning we gathered at Wall's to meet with Jean-Ernest Point-du-Jour, original manager of our scholarship program to give him a couple bags of supplies--school, first aid, jewelry--for our students. We gave him 4 copies of Kablaya's cd with his "Haiti Rise" song. We arranged to meet the directors of our 4 schools tomorrow morning to plan the party on Wednesday and the individual school visits on Thursday. Great meeting.
O.K. people still want to know about the state of unrest due to the cancellation of the presidential run-off scheduled for yesterday. I have been traveling in this neighborhood since 2004. We drove all around including in front of the election commission headquarters. No sign of any more protests. It was on the Delmas Ave. that the huge--thoursand of people--peacefully marched from downtown all the way up to Petion-Ville. One of our friends watched this peaceful march. They did hear the report of some shots and other vandalism on cars over in Petion-Ville. My sense is that there are always going to be "agents provocateurs" who intend to scare people and stop them from peaceful marching. But no fights ensued on Delmas.
Later we travelled downtown to Champs de Mars the park in front of the Presidential palace which was taken down after the earthquake. The park area where there used to be many tent camps from the quake victims has been fenced off. Again no sign of disturbance. Only a few police who greeted us with friendly smiles. Schools were back in session. I tried to get pictures of the crowds of students with their colored uniforms and backpacks. Failed. But clearly things are officially safe.
Later we travelled downtown to Champs de Mars the park in front of the Presidential palace which was taken down after the earthquake. The park area where there used to be many tent camps from the quake victims has been fenced off. Again no sign of disturbance. Only a few police who greeted us with friendly smiles. Schools were back in session. I tried to get pictures of the crowds of students with their colored uniforms and backpacks. Failed. But clearly things are officially safe.
Atty Evel Fanfan, an amazing human rights advocate is still at it, fighting for the rights of the poor. We first met in April 2004 at the National Penitentiary where he was trying to free illegally jailed prisoners. We became partners then with my group, Hurah (Human Rights Accompanient in Haiti, click Hurah to see the archives) and his group of young professionals--lawyers, journalists, teachers, social workers--dedicated to fighting for basic rights of the disenfranchised. We helped street kids and others falsely imprisoned and we helped form Community Human Rights Councils (CHRC) in 4 of the toughest neighborhoods in the capital. One of these was in Grand Ravine. It was this CHRC that asked us--St. Columba Haiti Ministry) to do the HHE program, keeping their most vulnerable children in school and close to home.
Atty Fanfan has continued to work with unions and other people suffering unjust treatment. In the last year he has become deeply involved with the victims of the political battles, literally helping to get demonstrators out of jail. The National Pentitentiary where we first met now has 5000 mostly illegal prisoners in a building built for 800 people. He has been tirelessly and selflessly supporting the efforts of political groups working to protest corruption in the elections and the way the country has gone out of control under the current government. The job of establishing a stable government is not over. Much work is left but getting the final election cancelled was a very big victory for human rights.
He is very pleased with the HHE program because of his own role in training and supporting the CHRC in Grand Ravine.
Tomorrow we have quite a busy day beginning with the meeting with the school directors. All very exciting and successful work so far!
Atty Fanfan has continued to work with unions and other people suffering unjust treatment. In the last year he has become deeply involved with the victims of the political battles, literally helping to get demonstrators out of jail. The National Pentitentiary where we first met now has 5000 mostly illegal prisoners in a building built for 800 people. He has been tirelessly and selflessly supporting the efforts of political groups working to protest corruption in the elections and the way the country has gone out of control under the current government. The job of establishing a stable government is not over. Much work is left but getting the final election cancelled was a very big victory for human rights.
He is very pleased with the HHE program because of his own role in training and supporting the CHRC in Grand Ravine.
Tomorrow we have quite a busy day beginning with the meeting with the school directors. All very exciting and successful work so far!