US duress
published: Sunday | March 7, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I BELIEVE that it is quite clear that the United States, where I live, forced out Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. On this point, the hearing in the House of Respresentatives last week was most relevant. Charles Rangel from New York City and Maxine Waters from Los Angeles interrogated Mr. Noriega from the State Department. The bottom line was that the U.S. would not offer any protection, including helping him out of the country, unless he signed a resignation letter.

Any lawyer can tell you that a letter such as this, signed under extreme duress, is not valid.

This is a grave and disturbing situation, and I must thank Mr. P.J. Patterson, CARICOM, and citizens of Jamaica for challenging the shocking and reckless nature of U.S. power.

It is also shocking to see how the U.S. media, TV and print, merely convey what the Bush administration "spins." I must read such papers as the Gleaner, and the CBC Web site for better information.

I am, etc.,

DEBORAH DOBISH

1495 Hurlbut Lane

Sebastopol, Ca 95472

Via Go-Jamaica