Translation of statement from Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye announcing July 28, 2011 protest against the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Kreyol original follows.

July 28, 1915 – July 28, 2011.  It has been ninety-six years since the U.S. imperial army landed in our country. They occupied us for nineteen years, killed many of our country’s children, and stole all our country’s riches.  Ninety-six years after the big imperial power and their neo-colonial accomplices came to our country, the U.S., Canada, and France are now using lackey governments, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, to do their dirty work.  These large powers are also using global organizations including the United Nations, the European Union, the IMF,  World Bank, and the Inter-Development Bank, to occupy, dominate, and exploit Dessalines’s land.

More than seven years ago, the big imperial countries, under cover of the United Nations and through MINUSTAH, landed in our country—for the third time—to rule the Haitian people and prevent us from finding the road to development and progress.  Since January 1, 2004, MINUSTAH soldiers have undermined our institutions; they have killed Haitians; they have committed human rights abuses and have denied us the rights to make decisions about our own country; they have inserted themselves in the politics of the country to determine who is president, senator, deputies, and prime minister; they have massacred people in poor neighbourhoods; they have violated young women.  To make matters worse, in October 2010, they released a cholera epidemic in the country that has already killed more than 7000 people.

As progressive grassroots organizations, we say that this situation cannot stand.  MINUSTAH has to leave the country, the [foreign] NGOs need to stop sucking the blood of the poor masses, and the big imperial powers need to allow Haiti its chance at progress and development.

Our organizations are taking the occasion of July 28, a date of misfortune that Haitian people will never forget, to demand, once again, the end of the UN occupation in Haiti.  The MINUSTAH soldiers are not doing anything in Haiti.  It’s cholera they bring.  It is poor people in popular neighbourhoods they terrorize.  We demand justice and reparations for all the cholera victims.

It is for these reasons that social grassroots organizations—the grassroots umbrella organizations such as MODEP, BRIKOURI, MOLEGHAF, GREPS, Batay Ouvriye—have decided to organize a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bois Verna, Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10 AM to demand that the Haitian government not renew the mandate of MINUSTAH. Please join us at the sit-in—all people who know that Haiti cannot stay under the boots of the oppressors and exploiters, and who believe in real change in a country where everyone can live and be treated as humans.

Down with the occupation!

Down with MINUSTAH/Cholera!

Down with false reconstruction!

Long live a free Haiti!

Long live the struggle of Haitian people!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
The 1915-1934 white American occupation of Haiti pilfered our country’s riches and killed many thousands of native sons and daughters, including Charlemagne Peralte and Benoit Batraville.  The 2004 UN occupation has killed more than 7000 with cholera. What are we waiting for to kick them out of our country?

We are inviting all to participate in a sit-in in front of the offices of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Bois Verna, Thursday, July 28 at 10 AM to demand the departure of MINUSTAH as well as justice and reparations for all cholera victims.