Tragedy in Haiti

U.S. policy on political asylum for Haitian refugees is deeply flawed with inequities (Commentary, March 17). Worse, the Clinton Administration’s hemming and hawing over our role in ending the reign of terror against that unlucky nation’s first democratic government is shameful and not worthy of a great and powerful democracy like the U.S.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee sent a human rights delegation to Haiti in January to meet with acting Prime Minister Robert Malval and embassy officials, as well as with peasant leaders working underground in the struggle for justice. Delegation members found vocal support among democratic leaders and activists for strict and meaningful sanctions against the Haitian military. “Why,” the Haitians asked, “won’t the U.S. take even a little risk for Haitian democracy?”

There is a tragedy of disastrous proportions brewing in Haiti. When will the U.S. government have the courage of its convictions in defense of human rights and democracy in a very small, very poor and very brave country that continues to pay the ultimate price?

RICHARD S. SCOBIE

Executive Director

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Cambridge, Mass.