WHEREAS:

            Nearly three years ago the military intervention that deposed democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti brought the condemnation of the world community; and

WHEREAS:

            Despite protestations of support for President Aristide a significant number of nations continue to trade with the military dictators and the elite of that impoverished country, defying the embargo or paying it only lip service while enriching the oppressors of the people; and

WHEREAS:

            The Haitian military has undermined every attempt at a negotiated solution to resolve the crisis and has promoted an escalation of violence and terror, suppressing the legitimate aspirations of the people of Haiti for democracy and freedom; and

WHEREAS:

            With United States leadership the world community has recently adopted initiatives aimed at strengthening the embargo and closing loopholes that permitted critical supplies of goods to be shipped to Haiti; and

WHEREAS:

            The Clinton Administration has finally humanized its refugee policy by abandoning the policy of forced return of all persons fleeing Haiti, instead conducting hearings that respect the genuine fears of persecution and terror held by many refugees.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That this 31st Constitutional Convention of AFSCME support efforts of the world community to tighten up on a universal basis the embargo against trade with Haiti, closing the loopholes that permitted privileged elites to circumvent efforts in support of democracy in Haiti; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME urge the U.S. government in concert with other democratic nations to develop further pressure on the military elite in an effort to force it to relinquish its control by terror of the people of Haiti; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That until such time as President Aristide can regain the office to which he was elected, the U.S. and the world community increase provision of food­stuffs, medicines and other humanitarian aid to the Haitian people, taking steps to see that such materials are safeguarded from military control and are in fact made available to those for whom they are intended.

SUBMITTED BY:

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD