HaitiSituation

OBLATE SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR OF HAITI

Fr. Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI, Director of the Oblates' Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Office in Rome has sent the following communication to Oblates on Oblate Day, 2004.

17 February 2004

Hello Folks,

Greetings of Peace and Happy OMI Day!

1. The conditions in Haiti are getting worse... The anti-government forces have taken yet another town (Hinche) as they seize control of the key roads that regulate the in and out of traffic of the Haitian capital. The latest attack follows the oppositions' seizure of the City of Gonaives, Haiti's 4th largest city, earlier this month.

2. As we continue to pray for the people of Haiti, we also intensify our appeal to all peoples of goodwill and to EU and OAS Offices to mediate the return to normalcy of the country.

3. Enclosed is the OMI-JPIC Board Statement of Concern sent to EU and OAS. About 14 peoples at the General House Community have also endorsed the JPIC Statement. You and your units may do likewise by contacting the EU and OAS - member representatives in your capitals.

4. We are happy to inform you that the Office of the EU Presidency and the Office of the EU General Secretary of the Council of Ministers have acknowldeged the JPIC Statement of Concerns...

We need to keep the solidarity for Justice and Peace "aflame" between and among our OMI Units...

Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI

JPIC-Rome

February 14^th 2004

Hon. Javier Solana Madariaga

Secretary General

Council of European Union

Bruxelles, Belgium

Dear Mr. Solana:

We take this opportunity to write to you concerning the deteriorating spiral of violence and destruction in Haiti. The great loss of life in the last few days is particularly troubling. We are aware of the efforts that you have already made to promote a cessation of the violence and to mediate a just and peaceful path towards reconciliation.

Haiti recently tried to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of its independence and the citizens as well as the many friends and supporters of Haiti in the international community anticipated this important event. Such a milestone ought to be a reason for great joy and honor in the history of any nation.

We are only too painfully aware that the opposite has been the case. More than forty people have been killed recently and the reports of violence, destruction and now hunger and starvation are increasing daily. Many international institutions and relief agencies have found it necessary to withdraw their representatives from the country.

While we know that the reservoir of your patience and the strength of your resolve may be tested by the current state of affairs we write to encourage you to stay the course in your search for a solution. We pledge our support and our prayers in support of your efforts.

The citizens of Haiti are worthy of our best efforts if they are to have any chance of reconciliation and restoring a stable and peaceful social order.

(SDG) Rufus Whitley (Chair), Eliseo Mercado, (Director), Seamus Finn (Associate Director), Oswald Firth & Daniel Corijn for the JPIC board of the General Service of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate


	OBLATE SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR OF HAITI
	Fr. Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI, Director of the Oblates' Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Office in Rome has sent the following communication to Oblates on Oblate Day, 2004.
	17 February 2004 Hello Folks, Greetings of Peace and Happy OMI Day! 1. The conditions in Haiti are getting worse... The anti-government forces have taken yet another town (Hinche) as they seize control of the key roads that regulate the in and out of traffic of the Haitian capital. The latest attack follows the oppositions' seizure of the City of Gonaives, Haiti's 4th largest city, earlier this month. 2. As we continue to pray for the people of Haiti, we also intensify our appeal to all peoples of goodwill and to EU and OAS Offices to mediate the return to normalcy of the country. 3. Enclosed is the OMI-JPIC Board Statement of Concern sent to EU and OAS. About 14 peoples at the General House Community have also endorsed the JPIC Statement. You and your units may do likewise by contacting the EU and OAS - member representatives in your capitals. 4. We are happy to inform you that the Office of the EU Presidency and the Office of the EU General Secretary of the Council of Ministers have acknowldeged the JPIC Statement of Concerns... We need to keep the solidarity for Justice and Peace "aflame" between and among our OMI Units... Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI JPIC-Rome February 14^th 2004 Hon. Javier Solana Madariaga Secretary General Council of European Union Bruxelles, Belgium Dear Mr. Solana: We take this opportunity to write to you concerning the deteriorating spiral of violence and destruction in Haiti. The great loss of life in the last few days is particularly troubling. We are aware of the efforts that you have already made to promote a cessation of the violence and to mediate a just and peaceful path towards reconciliation. Haiti recently tried to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of its independence and the citizens as well as the many friends and supporters of Haiti in the international community anticipated this important event. Such a milestone ought to be a reason for great joy and honor in the history of any nation. We are only too painfully aware that the opposite has been the case. More than forty people have been killed recently and the reports of violence, destruction and now hunger and starvation are increasing daily. Many international institutions and relief agencies have found it necessary to withdraw their representatives from the country. While we know that the reservoir of your patience and the strength of your resolve may be tested by the current state of affairs we write to encourage you to stay the course in your search for a solution. We pledge our support and our prayers in support of your efforts. The citizens of Haiti are worthy of our best efforts if they are to have any chance of reconciliation and restoring a stable and peaceful social order. (SDG) Rufus Whitley (Chair), Eliseo Mercado, (Director), Seamus Finn (Associate Director), Oswald Firth & Daniel Corijn for the JPIC board of the General Service of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate