Haiti: Colors of Concern; Anger and Indifference - The Killing Cassey Auguste
Pacifica May 14 Radio BC U.S. Citizen Murdered in Haiti
This is the tale of two young, murdered Americans. You Know the name of one of them: 26-year-old Nicholas Berg. Not coincidentally, he’s white. We have been led to believe that Berg was killed by enemies of the United States, in Iraq. The other murder victim is Cassey Auguste…20-years-old…executed in front of his family by men supported by the United States, in Haiti. You won’t hear anyone from the Bush administration mentioning Cassey Auguste’s name, although he, like Nicholas Berg, was an American citizen. George Bush can make political hay from Nicholas Berg’s death. The murder of Casey Auguste means nothing to the Bush men.
Cassey’s mother came to the United States almost three decades ago. She worked very hard at low paying jobs, raised a family and, four years ago, returned to her small hometown in Haiti to start a business, a store. Two years later, her son, Cassey, who was born and raised in the U.S., joined his mother in Haiti.
In February of this year, the Bush administration’s friends among the thugs and killers of Haitian society seized power from President Jean Bertrand Aristide and immediately began persecuting everyone associated with Aristide’s political Party. Cassey Auguste’s family was on their list.
On March 3, Cassey and a friend, also about 20 years old, sat talking in front of the family store. Four cars with tinted windows pulled up. Men with machine guns got out, and told Cassey and his friend to step forward.
Cassey put his hands up in the air, and said: “I’m an American. I have nothing to do with politics." Cassey’s father ran into the house, searching frantically for his son’s passport. Cassey’s mother cried out: “Please don't kill him. You can take what ever you want. Please. Please don't kill him.”
The father had found the passport, and was trying to show it to the men with the machineguns. But they shot Cassey Auguste and his friend dead, anyway, right there…in front of his family.
The men then took away the bodies and threw them into different gullies out in the countryside. It took 12 hours for Cassey’s mother to find his remains.
Cassey’s sister has appealed to Thomas Foley, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti. But Foley doesn’t care about THIS particular young, Black citizen of the United States. Foley helped put the criminals who killed Cassey Auguste in power. Ambassador Foley, and his boss Colin Powell and Powell’s boss George Bush call these killers “Freedom Fighters” -allies in the War Against Terror.
Cassey Auguste’s mother and stepfather are back in the United States. They are afraid to return to their little store in Haiti…afraid that the men in the cars with the tinted windows will come back and murder the rest of the family. These are men who kill Black American citizens with impunity. They get away with it because, they are friends, of George Bush.
We all know Nicholas Berg’s name…and so we should. But you never heard of Cassey Auguste. He had the right citizenship, but the wrong color, in the wrong country. For Radio BC, I’m Glen Ford.
Radio BC:
Listen to the latest audio commentary
http://www.blackcommentator.com/radio_bc/laterst_radio_bc.html
Cover Story:
Haitians Seized, Abused by U.S. Marines
Women, Children Subjected to Hood Treatment
http://www.blackcommentator.com/90/90_cover_haiti.html
Haiti Killing
Open Letter requesting investigation into killing of Cassey Auguste
to Ambassador James Foley of Haiti
To: Ambassador James B. Foley
U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
cc: Mr. Conrad Tribble
U.S. Embassy
Port-au-Prince
Dear Ambassador James B. Foley:
The family of Cassey Auguste have contacted us about the killing, on March 3,
2004 of their 20-year old son, an American citizen, who was staying in Haiti
with his Haitian parents. The family is reporting that Cassey Auguste was shot
in cold blood in front of his parents place of business in Haiti because "we
used to serve Lavalas at our business."
Below is Natasha Michaud testimony of the killing of her brother by people,
who some have called "U.S. proxies" in Haiti. Perhaps you would let us know how
an official U.S. Embassy investigation may be initiated in this matter of
utmost importance. If not, perhaps you may direct us to the appropriate U.S.
Embassy contact person who is charge with such matters. We may provide you with
contact information for the grieving family upon request.
Very Truly Yours,
Marguerite Laurent,
Chair, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
cc: Secretary General Powell (via fax - fax: 202.647.2283 )
The Haiti Desk: Joseph Tilghman & Lawrence Connell (via e-mail)
Selected U.S. Congressional Representatives
The Corbett list (via e-mail)
Mainstream media and Human Rights organizations (via e-mail)
****
Testimony of Natasha Michaud - The killing Cassey Auguste
What happens to Haitians that work all their life in America, and, after twenty-four years of hard, hard work to make ends meet; to take care of their family, are still not able to live a comfortable life? Because they are overwhelm with bills and responsibilities. Most of them are working hard labor and are being paid minimum wage, their bills are over and above what they are making.
******
My mother, after 24 years of hard, hard work in America - who saw she was not making any progress - decided to move back to her country that she loves and always wanted to live in and started a little family business.
After being there for about two years, her young son, Cassey Auguste, decided to join his mother in fulfilling her dreams.
On March 3, 2004, at 11:30am, Cassey Auguste, my brother, was seating in front of his mother's family business, SHOKESHA, in Pont Sound, L'artibonite. Cassey Auguste was seating there, him and his friend who was about the same age - 20 years old. When four vehicles with tinted windows pulled up and called them - approaching the boys with machine guns. My brother automatically put his hands up and said "I am an American. I have nothing to do with politics."
His father saw what was going on, ran inside to get Cassey's passport and showed it to the man. By that time my brother was shot about once or twice. In this process my mother is screaming and telling them "please don't kill him. You can take what ever you want please. Please don't kill him. And his father was trying to show the passport to one of the man. But that did not stop them.
Both boys were killed in cold blood in front of my mother and father. The man had something like a gun that shoot out water and cleaned the blood.The bodies were taking to Gonaives where they were dump, and was unable to be located for about twelve hours. Thanks to this man, a neighbor, who followed the tinted cars - of which we were told that he has some kind of power that would help him find the boys and he did.
The men in the car threw the bodies over the mountain and ravines one at a time apart, distant from each other. The neighbor following saw this. When we finally located them, the bodies were in very bad condition. We were unable to have a normal burial for fear of the attention and accusation against these men with guns and also for security purposed. The boys was just laid to rest with no funeral. We feared that these people may find out about the funeral and do some more damage to our lives.
My family - mother and father, are back in America continuing to live a life of fear and grief. In fear that these man may come back and finish what they started. My mother is afraid to go back to Haiti and resume her family business for fear of the rebels, who said we used to serve Lavalas at our business, coming back to kill and terrorize more members of our family and our close friends and neighbors.
Natasha Michaud
Dated, April 29, 2004
For more information, please see:
Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network, via
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html
Please also see:
Haitians, Venezuelans unite against U.S. war
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_7960.shtml
The president's real goal in Iraq
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2319.htm
My Journey to Caxias
How the CIA Taught the Portuguese to Torture
By CHRISTOPHER REED
http://www.counterpunch.org/reed05212004.html
School of the Americas Watch http://www.soaw.org/new/
Background Information
Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Rep. Maxine Waters Calls on Congress Not To Recognize New Haitian Government
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/05/1357220&mode=thread&tid=25
President Aristide Talks With Democracy Now!
About the Leaders of the Coup and U.S. Funding of the Opposition in Haiti
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5883.htm
excerpted from the book
Eyes of the Heart
by Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Common Courage Press, 2000
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Aristide/Eyes_Heart_Aristide.html
TURN FORMAL DEMOCRACIES INTO LIVING ONES
By Jean-Bertrand Aristide
March 1, 1997
http://www.spectacle.org/397/aristide.html
Pétition contre l'Enlèvement et la Séquestration du Président d'Haïti - Réseau Voltaire
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1515&blz=1
ARISTIDE UNDER LOCK & KEY, U.S. DELEGATION SAYS
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1514&blz=1
HAITI: Kevin Pina’s Notes on the ‘Killing Fields’ - from The Black Commentator http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1504&blz=1
Urgent Alert: U.S. Led Coup in Haiti ?
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1493&blz=1
MEDIA LENS: Bringing Hell to Haiti - Part 2 + Aristide Kidnapped
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1491&blz=1
MEDIA LENS: Bringing Hell to Haiti - Part 1
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1490&blz=1
Right Wing-Led Rebellion Convulses Haiti - Richard Dufour
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1435&blz=1
Haiti: International Day of Solidarity with the Haitian People
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1349&blz=1
Hailing Haiti's Bicentennial, Annan Urges End to Political Impasse
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1316&blz=1
Pacifica May 14 Radio BC U.S. Citizen Murdered in Haiti
This is the tale of two young, murdered Americans. You Know the name of one of them: 26-year-old Nicholas Berg. Not coincidentally, he’s white. We have been led to believe that Berg was killed by enemies of the United States, in Iraq. The other murder victim is Cassey Auguste…20-years-old…executed in front of his family by men supported by the United States, in Haiti. You won’t hear anyone from the Bush administration mentioning Cassey Auguste’s name, although he, like Nicholas Berg, was an American citizen. George Bush can make political hay from Nicholas Berg’s death. The murder of Casey Auguste means nothing to the Bush men.
Cassey’s mother came to the United States almost three decades ago. She worked very hard at low paying jobs, raised a family and, four years ago, returned to her small hometown in Haiti to start a business, a store. Two years later, her son, Cassey, who was born and raised in the U.S., joined his mother in Haiti.
In February of this year, the Bush administration’s friends among the thugs and killers of Haitian society seized power from President Jean Bertrand Aristide and immediately began persecuting everyone associated with Aristide’s political Party. Cassey Auguste’s family was on their list.
On March 3, Cassey and a friend, also about 20 years old, sat talking in front of the family store. Four cars with tinted windows pulled up. Men with machine guns got out, and told Cassey and his friend to step forward.
Cassey put his hands up in the air, and said: “I’m an American. I have nothing to do with politics." Cassey’s father ran into the house, searching frantically for his son’s passport. Cassey’s mother cried out: “Please don't kill him. You can take what ever you want. Please. Please don't kill him.”
The father had found the passport, and was trying to show it to the men with the machineguns. But they shot Cassey Auguste and his friend dead, anyway, right there…in front of his family.
The men then took away the bodies and threw them into different gullies out in the countryside. It took 12 hours for Cassey’s mother to find his remains.
Cassey’s sister has appealed to Thomas Foley, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti. But Foley doesn’t care about THIS particular young, Black citizen of the United States. Foley helped put the criminals who killed Cassey Auguste in power. Ambassador Foley, and his boss Colin Powell and Powell’s boss George Bush call these killers “Freedom Fighters” -allies in the War Against Terror.
Cassey Auguste’s mother and stepfather are back in the United States. They are afraid to return to their little store in Haiti…afraid that the men in the cars with the tinted windows will come back and murder the rest of the family. These are men who kill Black American citizens with impunity. They get away with it because, they are friends, of George Bush.
We all know Nicholas Berg’s name…and so we should. But you never heard of Cassey Auguste. He had the right citizenship, but the wrong color, in the wrong country. For Radio BC, I’m Glen Ford.
Radio BC:
Listen to the latest audio commentary
http://www.blackcommentator.com/radio_bc/laterst_radio_bc.html
Cover Story:
Haitians Seized, Abused by U.S. Marines
Women, Children Subjected to Hood Treatment
http://www.blackcommentator.com/90/90_cover_haiti.html
Haiti Killing
Open Letter requesting investigation into killing of Cassey Auguste
to Ambassador James Foley of Haiti
To: Ambassador James B. Foley
U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
cc: Mr. Conrad Tribble
U.S. Embassy
Port-au-Prince
Dear Ambassador James B. Foley:
The family of Cassey Auguste have contacted us about the killing, on March 3,
2004 of their 20-year old son, an American citizen, who was staying in Haiti
with his Haitian parents. The family is reporting that Cassey Auguste was shot
in cold blood in front of his parents place of business in Haiti because "we
used to serve Lavalas at our business."
Below is Natasha Michaud testimony of the killing of her brother by people,
who some have called "U.S. proxies" in Haiti. Perhaps you would let us know how
an official U.S. Embassy investigation may be initiated in this matter of
utmost importance. If not, perhaps you may direct us to the appropriate U.S.
Embassy contact person who is charge with such matters. We may provide you with
contact information for the grieving family upon request.
Very Truly Yours,
Marguerite Laurent,
Chair, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
cc: Secretary General Powell (via fax - fax: 202.647.2283 )
The Haiti Desk: Joseph Tilghman & Lawrence Connell (via e-mail)
Selected U.S. Congressional Representatives
The Corbett list (via e-mail)
Mainstream media and Human Rights organizations (via e-mail)
****
Testimony of Natasha Michaud - The killing Cassey Auguste
What happens to Haitians that work all their life in America, and, after twenty-four years of hard, hard work to make ends meet; to take care of their family, are still not able to live a comfortable life? Because they are overwhelm with bills and responsibilities. Most of them are working hard labor and are being paid minimum wage, their bills are over and above what they are making.
******
My mother, after 24 years of hard, hard work in America - who saw she was not making any progress - decided to move back to her country that she loves and always wanted to live in and started a little family business.
After being there for about two years, her young son, Cassey Auguste, decided to join his mother in fulfilling her dreams.
On March 3, 2004, at 11:30am, Cassey Auguste, my brother, was seating in front of his mother's family business, SHOKESHA, in Pont Sound, L'artibonite. Cassey Auguste was seating there, him and his friend who was about the same age - 20 years old. When four vehicles with tinted windows pulled up and called them - approaching the boys with machine guns. My brother automatically put his hands up and said "I am an American. I have nothing to do with politics."
His father saw what was going on, ran inside to get Cassey's passport and showed it to the man. By that time my brother was shot about once or twice. In this process my mother is screaming and telling them "please don't kill him. You can take what ever you want please. Please don't kill him. And his father was trying to show the passport to one of the man. But that did not stop them.
Both boys were killed in cold blood in front of my mother and father. The man had something like a gun that shoot out water and cleaned the blood.The bodies were taking to Gonaives where they were dump, and was unable to be located for about twelve hours. Thanks to this man, a neighbor, who followed the tinted cars - of which we were told that he has some kind of power that would help him find the boys and he did.
The men in the car threw the bodies over the mountain and ravines one at a time apart, distant from each other. The neighbor following saw this. When we finally located them, the bodies were in very bad condition. We were unable to have a normal burial for fear of the attention and accusation against these men with guns and also for security purposed. The boys was just laid to rest with no funeral. We feared that these people may find out about the funeral and do some more damage to our lives.
My family - mother and father, are back in America continuing to live a life of fear and grief. In fear that these man may come back and finish what they started. My mother is afraid to go back to Haiti and resume her family business for fear of the rebels, who said we used to serve Lavalas at our business, coming back to kill and terrorize more members of our family and our close friends and neighbors.
Natasha Michaud
Dated, April 29, 2004
For more information, please see:
Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network, via
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html
Please also see:
Haitians, Venezuelans unite against U.S. war
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_7960.shtml
The president's real goal in Iraq
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2319.htm
My Journey to Caxias
How the CIA Taught the Portuguese to Torture
By CHRISTOPHER REED
http://www.counterpunch.org/reed05212004.html
School of the Americas Watch http://www.soaw.org/new/
Background Information
Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Rep. Maxine Waters Calls on Congress Not To Recognize New Haitian Government
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/05/1357220&mode=thread&tid=25
President Aristide Talks With Democracy Now!
About the Leaders of the Coup and U.S. Funding of the Opposition in Haiti
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5883.htm
excerpted from the book
Eyes of the Heart
by Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Common Courage Press, 2000
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Aristide/Eyes_Heart_Aristide.html
TURN FORMAL DEMOCRACIES INTO LIVING ONES
By Jean-Bertrand Aristide
March 1, 1997
http://www.spectacle.org/397/aristide.html
Pétition contre l'Enlèvement et la Séquestration du Président d'Haïti - Réseau Voltaire
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1515&blz=1
ARISTIDE UNDER LOCK & KEY, U.S. DELEGATION SAYS
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1514&blz=1
HAITI: Kevin Pina’s Notes on the ‘Killing Fields’ - from The Black Commentator http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1504&blz=1
Urgent Alert: U.S. Led Coup in Haiti ?
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1493&blz=1
MEDIA LENS: Bringing Hell to Haiti - Part 2 + Aristide Kidnapped
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1491&blz=1
MEDIA LENS: Bringing Hell to Haiti - Part 1
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1490&blz=1
Right Wing-Led Rebellion Convulses Haiti - Richard Dufour
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1435&blz=1
Haiti: International Day of Solidarity with the Haitian People
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1349&blz=1
Hailing Haiti's Bicentennial, Annan Urges End to Political Impasse
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1316&blz=1