SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN HAITI

MAY 5, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN HAITI

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement during a news conference on Capitol Hill to address the situation in Haiti:

Because in this Administration, truth is in such short supply, it is imperative to have an independent commission investigation - a Truth Commission - to reveal the truth about how regime change was accomplished in Haiti. I fully support Rep. Barbara Lee's Resolution calling for a Truth Commission.

CARICOM, made up of the Caribbean countries that are closer to the situation in Haiti than any nations in the world, has refused to recognize this new government and La Tortue, its head, believing him to be an illegitimate designee, resulting from an illegitimate coups against a democratically elected President. We, the members of Congress here today and many others, follow the lead of CARICOM in refusing to recognize LaTortue and his so-called government.

The result of the violent coups in Haiti is predictable - continuing violence, assassinations, and a growing humanitarian crisis. It is despicable that the United States is adding to the distress of our poverty stricken neighbors, who it appears, were guilty of nothing more than electing a President that the Bush Administration doesn't like.