Please find below a recent article about So Anne which mentions something
called the Association of University Students Committed To A Haiti With
Rights, an older letter from So Anne, and coverage of a petition regarding
So Anne.

Regards,

Jens Iverson

Free So Anne
<http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050712132816532>

 Free So Anne
   

Tuesday, July 12 2005 @ 01:28 PM PDT
Contributed by: Oread Daily
Views: 38

Annette Auguste, known as So Anne, is a 63 year old grandmother, popular
Haitian singer, community organizer and pro-democracy activist. She has been
held without charges in a Port-au-Prince jail for over a year. The San
Francisco Bay View reports that she was recently visited by several
attorneys and observers affiliated with AUMOHD ((Association des
Universitaires Motivés Pour Une Haïti Des Droits, Association of University
Students Committed To A Haiti With Rights, pronounced "ohmode").

Free So Anne

 Annette Auguste, known as So Anne, is a 63 year old grandmother, popular
Haitian singer, community organizer and pro-democracy activist. She has been
held without charges in a Port-au-Prince jail for over a year. The San
Francisco Bay View reports that she was recently visited by several
attorneys and observers affiliated with AUMOHD ((Association des
Universitaires Motivés Pour Une Haïti Des Droits, Association of University
Students Committed To A Haiti With Rights, pronounced "ohmode"). AUMOHD is,
a human rights organization based in Haiti¹s capital. The AUMOHD delegation
reported that with her in the Pétionville Penitentiary are 108 other female
prisoners, including 11 minors and 97 adults. The delegation also reported
that more than 30 percent of these detainees have the flu, lice and a fever.
Among the sick are two persons with AIDS, one a minor of 17 years and
another woman 20 years old. It should be noted that there are no medications
available for these sick people. There are also three pregnant women and two
babies in this prison. Haitian attorney Evel Fanfan reports that Sò Anne is
confined to a prison cell, built for two prisoners, but holding instead
six-10 people.

 The Haiti Action Committee says, "Sò Anne's only crime is fighting for
democracy.² In fact, they are absolutely right. Annette Auguste played an
important role in supporting the constitutional government of Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, and helped to build the base of support among the majority of the
poor in Haiti for that cause. Auguste, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has
always been a frequent target for persecution due to her close ties with
President Aristide. She is a leader of PROP (Pouvwa Rasembleman Organizacion
Popile), a popular Lavalas organization (Fanmi Lavalas formed in 1996 as the
Lavalas Political Organization, is a political party in Haiti, of which
former president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide is a member). She is also a singer
of Haitian folk songs and is open about her practice of voodoo, officially
recognized as a national religion for the first time in Haitian history
under the Aristide administration. Auguste¹s religious beliefs and practices
have led to many unfounded, disparaging rumors and a campaign of
demonization against her.

 So how big a surprise was it when after midnight on May 9, 2004 US Marines
smashed their way into her home and snatched her? Auguste¹s residence is
part of a compound that includes four other apartments that were also
invaded by the U.S. military forces. The troops covered the heads of 11
Haitians with black hoods and then forced them to lay face down on the
ground while binding their wrists with plastic manacles behind their backs.
The victims of this terrifying U.S. military invasion included five-year-old
Chamyr Samedi, 10-year-old Kerlande Philippe, 12-year-old Loubahida
Augustine, 14-year-old Luckman Augustine, and seven adults. The Marines blew
up a vehicle and a substantial part of Auguste¹s three-story house, leaving
behind c4 and c5 explosives paraphernalia including blasting caps and
igniters.

 Auguste was interrogated throughout the night of her kidnapping without
counsel and in the absence of any except herself and Marine forces, and was
then transferred to the Haitian National Police.

 Global Action on Aging says, ³The Marine's initially claimed that they had
received information that she was stockpiling weapons in her home and
collaborating with a local mosque in a plan to attack US interests in Haiti.
Since that time the authorities managed to produce a back dated warrant
based on bigoted allegations of witchcraft, and unsubstantiated accusations
that she participated in violence at a demonstration on December 5, though
many witnesses can attest that she was in the recording studio at the time.²

 Although no weapons were found on the premises and despite the fact that a
judge has ordered So Anne released on several occasions for lack of evidence
against her, she continues to be held at the Petionville Penitentiary. Last
November Kofi Anan specifically called for justice in the case of So Anne
insisting that she either be charged and tried or released. To date his
words have not been heeded by the US installed government, nor has Anan
backed up his demands with concrete action.

 So Anne is not alone. Hundreds of others are imprisoned because of their
continued calls for a return to constitutional authority and their outspoken
criticism of the US-backed interim government. As Global Action on Aging
says, ³Haiti's justice system has been hijacked by an interim government
intent on silencing dissent and there is no semblance of due process for
those identified as Aristide supporters.²

 So Anne continues her work behind prison walls even today. So Anne holds
regular literacy classes in the prison, continuing her efforts to improve
the lives of those around her.

 On the outside, her friends and supporters continue to mobilize weekly for
her release.

 You may still sign a petition calling for the release of Sò Anne at:

 Sign petition at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/263040597?ltl=1120758107 Sources:
SF Bay View, Haiti Action Committee, Chickenbones, Global Action on Aging,
TransAfrica Forum, AfroCuba Web

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=55&ItemID=8109

From my prison cell...

by Annette Auguste; June 18, 2005

PORT AU PRINCE - I am Annette Auguste, who has been unjustly imprisoned and
held without charges since May 10, 2004. U.S. Marines arrested me in a
violent invasion of my home causing harm to my family. To this date there is
no reason for my imprisonment other than my support for the duly elected
president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Although Amnesty International
has been cowardly in using the term, I am among the thousands of political
prisoners rotting away in Haitian jails today. There is no other explanation
for my imprisonment as I have never been convicted of a crime or allowed my
day in court to challenge any allegations brought against me.

 From my prison cell I have learned many things. I have heard that police
have been free to kill Lavalas supporters with impunity on several
occasions. I have heard that the U.N. is working with these same deadly
forces, on behalf of the backward wealthy elite of our country, to justify
murder of the poor in the popular neighborhoods that continue to demand the
return of President Aristide. I am told that homes are burned and people
killed as the U.N. shows its true colors in places like Bel Air and Cite
Soleil. These are our hearts in the struggle to return our president and it
is not our friends who established this climate of insecurity. What did the
U.N. expect when they allowed the police to kill with impunity? It is now
certain that police are involved in the recent insecurity and kidnappings;
two of them were arrested yesterday for that. When the U.N. allowed them to
get away with murder they thought they could away any crime imaginable. The
U.N. and the same people in the Bush administration who arrested me are
responsible for this current climate of kidnappings and insecurity by
allowing the current regime to exact its revenge against Lavalas. If the
police are committing these crimes today it is because the international
community allowed them to do so out of a blind vengeance against Lavalas.
They established a climate where a policeman who got away with murder of
Lavalas thought afterwards why couldn't he kidnap to put money in his
pocket? Nobody held him responsible so why not?

 I now hear that the defacto Justice Minister Bernard Gousse is resigning.
He is the one who represents the Group 184 and the traditional reactionary
elites of Haiti who have denied justice in Haiti. This is a false and
cosmetic move meant to distract us away from the truth. This is a move meant
to clear the way for the false elections the international community plans
for Haiti. If I am not freed there are political prisoners in Haiti. If
former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and former interior minister J. Privert
are not freed there are political prisoners in Haiti. If ALL the prisoners
in Haiti who have been arrested merely for their affiliation with Lavalas
are not freed there are political prisoners in Haiti. I challenge Amnesty
International and other respectable human rights organizations to begin to
use the words, "political prisoners" or otherwise explain to the world why
we are still behind bars. Why am I still behind bars? Explain this to us!
Let us understand your reasoning that keeps us behind bars without ever
having a fair day in court.

 The elections they are planning to cover all of the human rights abuses
they have committed against Lavalas will not pass. They want to show to the
world that the coup of Feb. 29 was justified; I call upon all democracy
loving Haitians to not register for this vote. If you must accept their
bribe of a new national identity card to register then take it. But when the
day comes to vote stay home. Show them that we are a proud nation that
believes in democracy. We already voted and spent our energy on a government
that represented the majority of the poor in Haiti. We will never give into
to extortion and kidnapping. We will remain strong and resolved to return
the constitutional government. When it is darkest we will shine the light.

 The international community has given us no choice by their acceptance of
human rights violations by the police and their killings in the popular
neighborhoods. We have no choice but to die or not vote in the next
elections. This is all they have left us.

 I wish to thank all of those who love freedom for their support of
democracy in Haiti. We shall never forget your commitment and struggle for
our people. I say to you remain strong because lies cannot erase the truth
over time. I send you my love.

 Annette Auguste Penitentiary Petion-Ville Haiti June 15, 2005

 [via Haiti Information Project]

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/SK/7_6_5.html

Haiti activists around the world demand freedom for political prisoner
 Sò Anne

Annette Auguste, Haitian folksinger and pro-democracy activist known as Sò
Anne, has been held in prison without charges for more than one year, like
many other political prisoners in Haiti's jails.

But she's not forgotten.

Today Haiti Action Committee members delivered petitions to U.S., U.N. and
Haitian officials with 1,067 signatures from people living in 29 countries
demanding the release of this fierce supporter of President Jean Bertrand
Aristide. Aristide was forcibly removed from Haiti by U.S. government
officials Feb. 29, 2004. Since that time the U.S.-backed government has
rounded up, jailed, beaten and executed thousands of supporters of Fanmi
Lavalas, Aristide's political party.

 "Sò Anne's only crime is fighting for democracy", said several members of
the Haiti Action Committee who have visited So Anne in prison. The Coalition
to Free Sò Anne includes 70 organizations (see details below).

Haiti's interim prime minister has declared there are no political prisoners
in Haiti. However, in a recent letter from her prison cell, Sò Anne reminds
the world that she is, in fact, a political prisoner, a status she shares
with some 1,000 others, including ousted Aristide loyalists, Prime Minister
Yvon Neptune and Minister of the Interior Jocelerme Privert:

"If I am not freed there are political prisoners in Haiti. If former Prime
Minister Yvon Neptune and former interior minister J. Privert are not freed
there are political prisoners in Haiti. If ALL the prisoners in Haiti who
have been arrested merely for their affiliation with Lavalas are not freed,
there are political prisoners in Haiti."

Haitian attorney Evel Fanfan reports that Sò Anne is confined to a womans
prison where there are six-10 people in a cell intended for two; three of
the 108 women are pregnant, two have babies with them; two are known to have
AIDS; another approximately 30 suffer from fevers; there are no medications.
There are 17 minors. Only one prisoner has been brought to trial.

The petition says:

 Release Annette Auguste: Prisoner of Conscience in Petion-Ville
Penitentiary, Haiti

Whereas Annette Auguste, otherwise known by her performing name Sò Anne, was
arrested on May 10, 2004 by U.S. Marines following a violent assault of her
home, which included the use of grenades and plastics explosives;

Whereas Auguste was arrested without a proper warrant in violation of the
Haitian constitution and has been held in a Haitian jail without formal
charges since May 10, 2004;

Whereas, Auguste has declared herself innocent and a Prisoner of Political
Conscience according to the definition espoused by Amnesty International;

Whereas, Auguste has stated that Haitian authorities cannot release her
without approval of the Bush administration and the U.S. State Department;

We, the undersigned, demand the U.S. government and the Haitian government
provide for the immediate and unconditional release of Annette Auguste and
all other political prisoners in Haiti.

The Coalition to Free Sò Anne includes:

 1. Haiti Action Committee, CA  2. Institute for Justice and Democracy in
Haiti, OR  3. Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network, CT  4. Marin Interfaith
Taskforce on the Americas, CA  5. Code Pink Women for Peace Hayward, CA  6.
SF Women in Black, CA  7. Haiti Justice Committee, MN  8. Malcolm X
Grassroots Movement, CA  9. Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, CA  10.
Jewish Voice for Peace, CA  11. Justice for Palestinians, CA  12. Sacramento
Coalition for Democracy in Haiti, CA  13. Fondasyon Mapou, D.C.  14. East
Bay Sanctuary Covenant Haiti Committee, CA  15. International Socialist
Organization, CA  16. Campus Peace Action California State University
Sacramento, CA  17. St. Joan of Arc Haiti Committee, MN  18. Peace No War
Network 19. Progressive Democrats of America Sacramento Chapter, CA  20. San
Francisco Bayview Newspaper, CA  21. Vancouver Latin America-Caribbean
Solidarity Committee, Canada  22. Haiti Solidarity, B.C, Canada  23.
Interfaith Women for Peace, CA  24. Fanm Lakay, NY  25. Konbit Ayisian
Kakola, NY  26. Veye Yo, FL  27. Fanm Veye Yo, FL  28. SEIU 715 African
American Caucus, CA  29. Lake County Amnesty International, CA  30. Welfare
Poets, NY  31. Out of Control Lesbian Committee to Support Political
Prisoners, CA  32. Cape Codders for Peace and Justice, MA  33. April6Vt
Citizens Lobby, VT  34. Nicaragua Center for Community Action, CA  35.
Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean  36. Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom, DC  37. Haiti Solidarity
Committee, FL  38. Quixote Center/Haiti Reborn, MD  39. Santa Cruz
Bolivarian Circle, CA  40. Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903 -
International Solidarity Working Group, Canada  41. UCSC Cuba Study Group,
CA  42. Global Womens Strike, International  43. Code Pink Bay Area, CA  44.
Code Pink Portland, OR  45. Turnwind Peace and Justice, AZ  46. Gabriela
Network Bay Area, CA  47. Comité québécois pour la reconnaissance des droits
des travailleurs ha*tiens en République dominicaine, Canada  48. Global
Exchange  49. CESAPI Coalition in Solidarity with the People of Iraq, Canada
50. ActionLA Americas Watch, CA  51. Haiti Support Network (HSN), NY  52.
South Bay Labor for Peace and Justice, CA  53. San Franciscans for Our
City's Health, CA  54. AUMOHD, Haiti  55. Womens Fightback Network  56.
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal  57. No One is
Illegal Vancouver, Canada  58. Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, OR  59.
East Timor Action Network- Madison, WI  60. Women for Peace-Madison, WI  61.
TransAfrica Forum, International  62. Faculty For Peace and Justice, CSUS
63. Mourning Mothers, CA  64. Grandmothers For Peace, International  65.
KAKOLA, NY  66. National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
(N'COBRA), CA  67. Foundations for Our Nu Afrikan Millennium (FONAMI), CA
68. African Initiative of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Pacific
Mountain Region  69. African Initiative for Peace Democracy and Development,
South Africa  70. Women's League, South Africa

Signatories include individuals from: Australia, Argentina, Belize, Canada,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Great Britain, Grenada, Haiti, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Saint
Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad,
Turkey, United States

Contact:

 Sasha Kramer: Haiti Action Committee 503-807-3923

 Brian Concannon: Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti 541-432-0597
brianha...@aol.com

Petitions are being sent to:

US GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

James B. Foley, ambassador to Haiti:
 011-509-222-0200 Fax: 223-9038

Ambassador Anne Patterson,
 acting permanent U.S. representative to the United Nations:
 212-415-4050 or Peggy Kerry: ker...@state.gov

HAITIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

Raymond Joseph, ambassador from Haiti to the U.S.
 202-332-4090; emba...@haiti.org

Henri Dorléans, minister of justice:
 011-509-245-5856

UN CONTACTS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
inquir...@un.org; press office: (509) 510-2563 ext. : 6343

United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti:

 Gender issues: Nadine Puechguirbal:puechguir...@un.org
 Human rights: Mahamane Cissé-Gouro cisse-go...@un.org
 Thierry Fagart fag...@un.org

We gathered signatures from 29 countries! and the petition is still ongoing
at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/263040597?ltl=1120758107