Yet. because of an extraordinarily repressive. intransigent political leadership. scarcely any of this aid has trickled down to the masses. In spite of our good intentions at promoting basic human needs in Haiti. the vast majority of Haitians have been denied both political and economic human rights. Over 8.000 Haitians have been forced to flee their homeland in precarious boat trips analogous to the Indochinese refugees. Many seek refuge in the United States hoping to receive treatment equal to other refugees. While we have generously welcomed Indonesian. East European. Cuban. Nicaraguan. and other refugees. black Haitians are coldly turned away from our shores. There is currently a claim to the interAmerican Human Rights Commission against the United States for its treatment of Haitian refugees. I. and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. feel Haitian refugees should be extended the same human rights granted to other refugee groups fleeing political and economic persecution. We must work toward not only an extension of rights to Haitian refugees. but also toward an increased respect for human rights within Haiti. The refugee problem can be best solved by extending political and economic rights to people in their own homeland. We must not fear that promoting rights abroad might damage diplomatic relationships. To the contrary. human rights issues in Cubathe releasing of political prisoners and reuniting of familiesare our best hope for normalizing relationships with what once was considered the greatest threat to U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.
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refugee refugees