[van-announce] Reminder: Patrick Elie at UBC Monday, 12 Noon - 1:30p.m.

[Stephanie Smith]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:27:03 -0800
From: Derrick O'Keefe <sankara83 at hotmail>


Haiti at the Crossroads: A Special Forum with Patrick Elie at UBC

Monday, March 20
12 Noon, SUB Room 216A

Sponsored by the Social Justice Centre and Colour Connected 
Against Racism. Patrick Elie's speaking tour is organized by the 
Canada Haiti Action Network (www.canadahaitiaction.ca).

Political rights leader Patrick Elie from Haiti speaks on the 
coup that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide 
two years ago and the UN-sponsored presidential election last 
month.

Elie was a minister in the first government of President 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 1991-96 where he served as National 
Coordinator for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking, 1991-94, and 
Secretary of State for National Defence, 1994-95. While serving 
in the latter post, he was instrumental in creating the Haitian 
National Police and disbanding the Haitian Army.

He describes the purpose of his speaking tour as follows: "The 
courageous struggle of the Haitian people for democracy and 
social justice is often presented in an inaccurate and even 
malicious way. As a result, the people of Haiti are deprived of 
the much needed sympathy and solidarity they deserve.

"If Canadians are correctly informed about Haiti, it will be more 
difficult for the government of Canada to engage in policies that 
constitute a violation of Haiti's hard won sovereignty and of the 
will of the Haitian people."

For more info on Patrick Elie's tour contact: 778-858-5179. For 
information on the UBC event, contact 604-512-9955.

March 20-24 is Realities of Race Week at UBC, organized by Colour 
Connected Against Racism. For a full schedule of events, visit 
http://www.ams.ubc.ca/ror2006/home.htm.