Reparations for Africville? ¶ David Fuenmayor on Venezuela’s Political Crisis ¶ OCAP’s John Clarke on the Criminalization of Dissent ¶ An interview with Geoff Berner ¶ Yuill Herbert on Canada’s Boreal Forests >>> dominion, n. 1. Control or the exercise of control. 2. A territory or sphere of influence; a realm. 3. One of the self-governing nations The Dominion within the British Commonwealth. CANADA’S GRASSROOTS NATIONAL NEWSPAPER • MARCH, 2004 • DOMINIONPAPER.CA • Vol. I, #16 Guantanamo reporting what’s going on, that Prisoner Describes the former Haitian military is “Torture” killing people. They are killing about 50 people a day in Cap Jamal al-Harith, a Brit- Haitien.” ish citizen who was held for Moise also said the former over two years without charge army has been equipped with by the American military was sophisticated weaponry, includ- recently released and returned ing helicopters and planes, and to England. asked reporters to find out Upon his return home where it was coming from. He from “Camp X-ray” on the US said that the army, which killed military base at Guantanamo thousands of Haitian dissidents Bay, Cuba, he described the during the US-supported Duva- conditions of life in the facility lier dictatorships, was tradition- to the British press. Scientists hold two Giant Pacific Crabs. Introduced by the Soviets ally used to oppress the poor of Al-Harith said that pris- Union in the 1950s, the versatile species has multiplied rapidly, and Haiti before it was disbanded by oners were kept in small wire the growing population is moving south along the Norwegian coast. President Aristide in 1994. Moise also drew attention cages, exposed to the weather families. Among the groups receiv- to the achievements of Haiti’s and to snakes, insects, and scor- “It took the Americans five ing funding are those collecting democratic government, and pions on the ground. The former minutes to take my son,” said signatures for a referendum on asked why the US chose to prisoner described brutal treat- Fadil Abdulhamid. “It has taken Hugo Chavez’s presidency and destabilize the country with an ment such as frequent beatings me more than three weeks the people who unseated the aid embargo. for minor offenses, torture, and to find him.” Human rights president in a short-lived coup “One has to ask, why is systematic humiliation. He lawyer Adil Allami commented two years ago. all of this happening? Is this cited specific instances where that “Iraq has turned into one The NED also provided because we used to have only 10 devout Muslims were forced big Guantanamo,” explaining funds to opposition groups in public high schools but now we to watch female strippers, and that the prisoners, who are as Haiti opposed to the recently- have over 150?” prisoners were told “we will kill young as 11 and as old as 75, deposed president Aristide. (Pacific News Service) your family and you.” have “essentially no rights.” Critics have claimed that the US foreign secretary Jack (NY Times) funding, along with a major aid Straw explained that there was embargo, was part of a success- “Stalin’s Last Army” “good reason” for detaining the US Government ful attempt to systematically Advancing on Europe suspects. When asked if any of Provided Funding destabilize the country. those held were innocent, he to Opposition in (Independent) The Norwegian govern- replied, “I can’t answer that ment is concerned that a popu- question, nobody can.” Haiti, Venezuela Haitian Mayor: lation of giant crabs is moving (Telegraph) “Hundreds Killed south from the Arctic, fueled According to documents by explosive population growth Iraq is “One Big obtained under the Freedom Every Day” and a lack of natural predators. Guantanamo” of Information Act, the US Known as “Giant Pacific government provided over a The 28-year-old former Crabs”, the species were intro- Over 10,000 Iraqi men and million dollars in funding to the mayor of Milo, a town of duced to the arctic region by boys are being held without Venezuelan opponents of Presi- 50,000 in northern Haiti, told Joseph Stalin’s Soviet govern- charge by the US military in dent Hugo Chavez in 2002. The reporters that the formerly ment in the 1950’s. Scientists Iraq, according to a recent New funds were channeled through disbanded Haitian military is say the species has a remark- York Times report. The prison- the National Endowment for now killing hundreds of people. able ability to adapt to new ers, who have been captured by Democracy (NED), a non-profit Jean Charles Moise, who is now conditions, and could reach as the military, are in most cases agency with a congressional in hiding, said that “the jour- far south as the Mediterranean not allowed contact with the mandate to “encourage democ- nalists are in Port-au-Prince, in the coming decades. outside world, including their racy.” but here in the north no one is (Telegraph) International News For full stories and additional reading, visit www.dominionpaper.ca International News Editor: Dru Oja Jay, [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Canadian News 2 3 The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 UN Recommends (Lower Mainland Coalition for Reparations for Social Justice) Africville Residents Stronger Whistle- The fight for compensation for former residents of Africville blower Protection received a boost when a United Needed: PSAC Nations report urged Canada to consider paying reparations. The Public Service Alliance Located in north Halifax, of Canada (PSAC) is worried Africville was home to about that the Liberal government’s 400 black Nova Scotians until new bill for “whistleblowers” it was razed by the city starting is not extensive enough to pro- in 1964. vide the proper protection and First a settlement for black recourse for those who choose Americans who fled the United to bring relevant issues forward. PSAC says it has been advocat- States during the war of 1812, Before: Africville circa 1984; the community was denied basic sani- ing for whistleblower protection Africville existed as a com- tation and water services by the city of Halifax. munity starting in the 1850s. for more than 20 years. Though the residents paid PSAC says that for whis- taxes, the city of Halifax pro- tleblower protection to be vided no services, and residents effective, it must meet several were left to make do with what criteria. It must allow for a was available. This set the stage person to confidentially report for the city’s relocation program any suspected wrongdoing to a in 1964, which was initiated on responsible third party outside the basis of the alleged poor formal departmental structures sanitation in Africville. Most and the allegations must be families were paid around $500 investigated by an independent in compensation. agency, providing anonymity Many historians cite evi- to the whistleblower whenever dence that the city used the possible. If an allegation turns humanitarian justification as out to be wrong or there is not an excuse to appropriate what enough evidence, no penalties was then seen as an ideal area should be imposed on the whis- for industrial development. tleblower so that others will not After: Years after the village was demolished and the land appropriated be discouraged. Recourse must Africville residents were not by the city of Halifax, the only remnant of Africville is a small monument. consulted in the formulation of be provided throughout the the relocation program. Despite province’s legislature. to arrange an emergency meet- procedure, and the entire set the trying conditions, many Prior to the refusal to leave, ing with Finance Minister Gary of rules must be applied to the surviving Africville residents the representatives had a meet- Collins before the end of March entire public sector. have recalled the community ing with Minister of State for to discuss the issue. The repre- “We also want a cultural with some fondness, citing the Women’s and Seniors’ Services sentatives refused to leave the change in government where strong community and inde- Ida Chong concerning the Lib- Legislature until Chong came it is possible to question the pendence. eral government’s cuts to the back to the table to have an motives and actions of the Efforts by the Africville province’s women’s centres. “open and honest discussion higher-ups without recrimi- Genealogy Society to gain com- According to the Lower about the realities for women nation,” says PSAC national pensation for the families of Mainland Coalition for Social in BC.” president, Nycole Turmel. He Africville residents has, to date, Justice, 100 per cent of core The funding that will be also says that the government not been fruitful. funding to BC’s 37 Women’s ceased has provided crisis inter- is refusing to agree to PSAC’s Centres will be cut as of March vention, as well as referral and suggestions and it is not offer- Five Arrested for 31, 2004, resulting in wide- emergency response services. ing any other solutions, even in spread closures. The coalition warns that cut- light of the ongoing media and Protesting Cuts to The representatives had ting the funding will continue public scrutiny. BC Women’s Centres two main requests during the the BC Liberal government’s “When the sponsorship meeting with Chong. First, trend of subjecting women to scandal broke I thought the Five representatives from they wanted a commitment to “starvation, harassment, vio- government was serious, but the British Columbia Coali- re-open the agreement between lence, homelessness, addiction, with each passing day, their tion of Women’s Centres were the government and the cen- unemployment, loss of their actions say otherwise,” he said.