Letter from a Haitian jail

Catholic New Times, Dec 5, 2004 by Gerard Jean-Juste

Greetings and Gratitude! Courage and Persistence!

I can't stop thinking of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as I am sending you this short letter. Quoting by heart and in substance Dr. King, allow me to remind you of this:

"It is not, if I help my brothers and sisters, what's going to happen to me? Rather, if I don't help them, what's gong to happen to them?"

Hooded men, intimidation, masked gunmen, massacre, masked men attacking the churches, forced entries in our rectories, arbitrary arrests, defamation, character assassination, prison, threats of death--should not stop any human rights' activist or institutions advocating for the enjoyment of basic human needs for all, especially the poor ones.

I think of all of you who advocate for my release, all who demand the release of all political prisoners, under the "de facto," illegal, unconstitutional Latortue-Alexandre government, imposed by the administration of Presidents G.W. Bush, Jacques Chirac, and Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Freedom and democracy shall prevail in Haiti.

Visiting Haiti in 1983, Pope John Paul II called for real change: "Things must change." LET IT BE!

The repression on all levels is so heavy. I call for: an immediate return to constitutional order; the release of all political prisoners; the respect of the vote and the will of the people; the rejection of kidnappings, coup d'etats from whoever the authors.

Let the word of God win our souls! Let love of God and humanity prevail! Let us start our heaven on earth as God wants it! Gratitude, Peace, and Love to you all!

Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste (Nsera Njeri Jan-Jis) 509-405-3244

This letter was sent out of the Omega-Carrefour Jail, by Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste via Bill Quigley, one of Fr. Jean-Juste's lawyers.