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Patrick Elie tour this week in Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton, Toronto

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2006
Haitian Activist Patrick Elie to Speak in Oakville

Oakville: Patrick Elie, a Haiti-based political rights activist and former Minister of the first government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be stopping in Oakville on Friday March 3 as part of his cross-Canada speaking tour to address the illegal 2004 invasion, foreign occupation, and human rights violations in Haiti
The Halton Peace Network is hosting an informal talk where the press and the public can meet Mr. Elie and ask questions about socio-political conditions in Haiti.

Friday March 3, 2006
2:30 pm
Vinnie’s Café
2416 Lakeshore Rd. West, Oakville
East of Bronte Rd. on the south side, opposite Sobey’s and between Licks and Deningers. Free parking in the rear.

"Democracy and constitutional rule was overthrown in Haiti in February 2004 by a coup," explains Andrea Pinochet, an organizer with Haiti Solidarity BC, in Vancouver. "The elected president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was forced into exile at that time. Since then, thousands of his supporters have been killed, jailed, or forced into exile. Patrick Elie is a voice for the restoration of sovereignty and democracy in Haiti."

Since February 2004, the social and human rights situation in Haiti has been disastrous. Canada is a major player in the coup and its aftermath. The election of René Préval on February 7 offers new hope for the Haitian people, Patrick Elie said in a telephone interview from Port au Prince the day after the vote.

"The high participation of the Haitian people in this election shows that our desire for constitutional and democratic government cannot be denied. The United Nations forces in Haiti must respect the choice of the people and facilitate a rapid restoration of constitutional rule. It must end its support to the illegal interim government and the human rights violations associated with it, and provide whatever assistance a new government under President Préval deems necessary."

Elie recently helped to found a political rights organization in Haiti called Sant Obsèvasyon Sitwayen ("Citizens Monitoring Center"). It advocates measures to facilitate a return to democratic and constitutional rule in Haiti.

Contact: local tour co-ordinator Brian Hopkins
at 905-257-6756 or brian33hop@yahoo.ca.


For background information on Patrick Elie and the situation in Haiti, please check out the following links:

Interview with Patrick Elie. Seven Oaks - February 27, 2006 (Canada)

Interview with Patrick Elie by Vancouver Haiti activist Anthony Fenton

University of Miami Law School human rights report (author Thomas Griffin), November 2004 (pdf)

* Statement by Louis Joinet, Haiti expert of the UN Human Rights Commission, November 29, 2005

Extensive archive of articles on human rights in Haiti




PATRICK ELIE TOUR THIS WEEK

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March 1 - Kitchener
Wednesday, March 1 at 1 PM,
Wilfred Laurier University, Science Building, Room N1042.
Info: (519) 743-2093. Or e-mail: asli5350@wlu.ca
**************
March 1 – Guelph
Wednesday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m.
University of Guelph
Room 115, MacKinnon Bldg.

Contact : skerrett3@sympatico.ca
**************
March 2 – Mississauga
Thursday March 2, 7pm
University of Toronto
Mississauga Campus
3359 Mississauga Rd. N.
Council Chambers, Room 3130
South Building
Contact MCPJ at: mcaswi@yahoo.ca
Free parking in parking lot #2
For directions to the campus (www.utm.utoronto.ca/)
see maps at: www.utm.utoronto.ca/1647.0.html.
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March 3 - Oakville
Informal talk by Patrick Elie, questions and answers, meet the press
Friday March 3
2:30 pm
Vinnie’s Café
2416 Lakeshore Rd. West, Oakville
(east of Bronte Rd. on the south side, opposite Sobey’s and
between Licks and Deningers)
free parking in the rear
Contact: Brian Hopkins at brian33hop@yahoo.ca or 905-257-6756

**********************
March 3 – Hamilton
Friday March 3
7:30 p.m.
McMaster University
McMaster Medical Centre Room 1A5
Contact: brendanstone@cogeco.ca

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March 4 - Toronto
Patrick is scheduled to speak to a caucus meeting of delegates at the Ontario NDP provincial council during lunch time on Saturday, March 4.
Delta Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street W. at Yonge, in the Carlyle Room on the third floor.
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"Anyone with knowledge of illegal activity and an opportunity to do something is a potential criminal under international law, unless the person takes affirmative measures to prevent the commission of the crimes." - Declaration of War Crimes Tribunals following World War ll

posted by Annamarie at 11:14 PM