Sunday, October 13, 2024

Open Letter to Dominican President Luis Abinader: Stop Deportations Now!


OCTOBER 11, 2024
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To President Luis Abinader,

As writers, scholars, artists, activists, and people who believe in human rights, we write to condemn the unconscionable violence that your government has unleashed on Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian descent and Black Dominicans since your announcement on October 2nd to deport 10,000 Haitians per week. 

The chosen date, October 2nd, commemorates 87 years since dictator Trujillo ordered the massacre of over 20,000 ethnic Haitians and Black Dominicans on the Dominican borderlands. Clearly, you are following in the footsteps of the dictator, upholding the views of the right-wing extremists, and using public funding to propagate fear and hate. The timing of your announcement is not a mere coincidence but an intentional act to show the Dominican state's policy of continuing the dictator's plan of ethnic cleansing of Haitian people on Dominican soil.

We come to you as a collective of Dominicans and non-Dominican allies who care deeply about human rights, freedom and democracy to demand that you stop at once this macabre deportation plan and put into place a plan that protects the civil liberties of all people living on Dominican soil, including Dominicans who disagree with you, those Dominicans who trace their ancestry to Haiti and immigrants who are currently sustaining our economy with their labor. With that said, we demand the following:

* Ending mass deportations

* Restoring the nationality of people unconstitutionally denationalized in 2013

* Ending the de facto state of exception and restoring full constitutional guarantees

* Ending forced labor and respecting the human rights of Haitian workers

Mass deportation of a singled-out community is a practice condemned by international law. 

Since October 2nd following your order, Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent are being violently persecuted, families separated, houses broken into, communities terrorized. The fact that the state deportation machinery targets pregnant women shows how far the inhumanity of your plan is willing to go. There is no regard for life, no room for empathy. At a time when neighboring Haiti is facing one of its worst political crises and humanitarian catastrophes, you have chosen to make Haitian people more vulnerable and to promote hate and chaos. We urge you to stop this mass deportation plan at once. We urge you to put an end to this state-sponsored hate. 

We take this opportunity to remind the people of conscience around the world that ever since you became president four years ago, the Dominican state has shown a complete disregard for Haitian lives, for the lives of Dominicans of Haitian descent and for Black people. You have chosen to ally yourself with Israel and Trump in your policies and ideals, and with extractive corporations that further deepen Dominican dependency on foreign powers while claiming sovereignty and blaming Haitian immigrants who are enriching your economy with cheap labor for said dependency. The hypocrisy of the Dominican state knows no bounds. Its policies are dangerous to democracy.

To add your signature, please submit the following form: https://forms.gle/wPfbAY3R7CJZFxgs7 

Spanish Version

Open letter to Dominican President Luis Abinader:

Stop deportations now!

To President Luis Abinader,

As writers, academics, artists, activists, and people who believe in human rights, we write to condemn the unconscionable violence your government has unleashed against Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian descent, and Black Dominicans since its announcement on October 2 to deport 10,000 Haitians per week.

The date chosen, October 2, commemorates 87 years since dictator Trujillo ordered the massacre of more than 20,000 Haitians and black Dominicans in the Dominican border areas. It is clear that they are following in the dictator's footsteps, defending the views of right-wing extremists and using public funding to spread fear and hatred. The timing of his announcement is not a mere coincidence, but an intentional act to show the Dominican State's policy of continuing with the dictator's plan of ethnic cleansing of the Haitian people on Dominican soil.

We address you as a collective of Dominicans and non-Dominican allies who care deeply about human rights, freedom, and democracy to demand that you immediately stop this macabre deportation plan and put in place a plan that protects the civil liberties of all people living on Dominican soil, including Dominicans who disagree with you. the Dominicans who trace their ancestry to Haiti and the immigrants who currently sustain our economy with their labor. That said, we demand the following:

* End mass deportations

* Restoration of the nationality of persons unconstitutionally denationalized in 2013

* End the de facto state of emergency and restore all constitutional guarantees

* End forced labour and respect the human rights of Haitian workers

* The mass deportation of a marginalized community is a practice condemned by international law.

Since October 2, following his order, Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent are being violently persecuted, families separated, houses raided, communities terrorized. The fact that the state deportation machinery is focused on pregnant women shows how far the inhumanity of its plan is willing to go. There is no respect for life, there is no room for empathy. At a time when neighbouring Haiti is facing one of its worst political crises and humanitarian catastrophes, you have chosen to make it more vulnerable and promote hatred and chaos. We urge you to stop this mass deportation plan immediately. We urge you to put an end to this state-sponsored hatred.

We take this opportunity to remind people of conscience around the world that since you assumed the presidency four years ago, the Dominican State has shown total disregard for Haitian lives, for the lives of Dominicans of Haitian descent, and for Black people. They have chosen to ally themselves with Israel and Trump in their policies and ideals, and with extractive corporations that further deepen Dominican dependence on foreign powers while claiming sovereignty and blaming Haitian immigrants who are enriching their economy with cheap labor for said dependence. The hypocrisy of the Dominican State has no limits. Their policies are dangerous for democracy.

To add your signature, please fill out the form below: https://forms.gle/wPfbAY3R7CJZFxgs7 

Signed/Firman, 

A. Naomi Paik, Professor, Chicago, USA
Aasha Jackson, Black Alliance for Peace, USA
AB Huber, Professor, Tufts University, USA
Acción Afro-Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Achy Obejas, Writer & Translator, USA/Cuba
Adelin Pierre
Aditi Rao, Princeton University, USA
Adom Getachew, Professor, University of Chicago, USA
Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director, Kensington Corridor Trust, USA
Afia Ofori-Mensa, PhD, Higher Education Professional, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Agnes Lugo-Ortiz, The University of Chicago, USA
Agustin Lao-Montes
Aide Cortes, Anthropology Student at the University of Rosario, Colombia
Aileen Rodriguez, USA
Akia Pacheco
Alan Levine, Civil Rights Lawyer, USA
Alan Pelaez Lopez, Assistant Professor, University of California-Davis
Alba Pérez, NYU, Professor, USA
Alejandro de la Fuente, Director, Afro-Latin American Research Institute, Harvard University
Alex G. Rivera-Santos, Loc PM, Puerto Rico
Alex Guerrero, Visual Artist
Alex Voisine, PhD Student, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Alexa Rodriguez, USA
Alexander Gil, Yale University, Professor, USA
Alexandro José Gradilla, PhD, CSU Fullerton, USA
Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Writer, USA
Alexis Riddick, USA
Alexis Spicer
Alicia Arribas
Alicia Díaz, Dance Faculty, University of Richmond, USA
Alicia Grullón, Educator, USA
Alicia Schmidt Camacho, Yale University, USA
Allison Puglisi, Assistant Professor, Vassar College
Allyson Pérez, PhD Student, University of Michigan, USA
Alma Concepción, Artist, Independent Scholar, USA
Alondra Ponce, Researcher, USA/Mexico
Alpha Judith Orozco Herrera
Altagracia Jean Joseph, Dominican Republic
Altagracia, Tertulia Feminista Sur, Coordinator
Alyssa Sepinwall, Professor, USA
Amarilys Estrella, Rice University, USA
Amaury Rodriguez, Writer, USA
Amaurys Pérez, Ph.D, UASD, Sociologist and Historian, Dominican Republic
Amelia Bande, New York University, Writer in Residence, USA
Amin Pérez, Sociologist, University of Quebec, Canada
Amira Ravshanova, Student, MIT, USA
Amy Andrieux, MoCADA, Executive Director and Professor, USA
Amy Hughes, USA
Ana Blanco, Princeton University and the University of California Berkeley, PhD Researcher, USA
Ana Jimenez-Bautista, Member of the Dominican Diaspora, New York, USA
Ana Lucia Araujo, Professor, Howard University, USA
Ana Maria Belique, Social Activist, Dominican
Republic Ana María Espinal, Master, USA
Ana Patricia Rodríguez, Associate Professor, University of Maryland, USA
Ana Ramos-Zayas, Professor, Yale, USA
Ananya Roy, Professor, USA
Anastasia Mann, Lecturer, Princeton University, USA
Ángel Antonio
Angela Gardner, Artist, USA
Angela Stuesse, UNC-Chapel Hill, USA
Angela Y. Davis, Scholar and Activist
Angelica Benitez, Education, USA
Angelica Perez, Mexico
Anin Luo, Princeton University, USA
Annaliese Gayle, USA
Annecy Baez, PhD, Educator/Therapist/Writer, USA
Anneliese Ortiz, Student, USA
Anthony Arnove, Haymarket Books, Editorial Director, USA
Antonio Martorell, Artist, Puerto Rico
Arcadio Díaz Quiñones, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, USA
Argelis V. Wesley
Ari Ismail, Lafayette College, Student, USA
Ariana A. Curtis, Anthropologist, USA
Arien Tucker, USA
Aris Moreno Clemons, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
Arlene Davila, Professor, NYU, USA
Armando Santiago Pintado, Puerto Rico
Arturo Massol Deyá, Casa Pueblo, Profesor UPRM, Puerto Rico
Arturo Victoriano, University of British Columbia, Assistant Professor, Canada
Asselin Ezena
Ausiana Laguerre, Student, Kiskeya Youth, USA
Austin Cole, Black Alliance for Peace, USA
Ayendy Bonifacio, Professor, University of Toledo – Ohio, USA
Bárbara Abadía-Rexach, Assistant Professor
Bárbara Pluma Moreno, Centro de Apoyo Mutuo Jíbaro de Lares
Barbara Ransby, Professor, Writer, Activist, USA
Barbara Sostaita, University of Illinois Chicago, USA
Bastien Bosa, Professor, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
Beatriz Llenín Figueroa, Emerging Education Editor, Writer/Editor/Translator, Puerto Rico
Benjamin Kaplan, Student, Northeastern University, USA
Bethany Moreton, Professor of History, Dartmouth College, USA
Betina Kaplan, UGA & U-Lead Athens, Educator, USA
Betty Jean, Anchor of Hope International, Mental Health & Trauma Professional, USA
Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Professor, Spelman College, USA
Bobby Rivera, Associate Professor, St. John's University, USA
Bonnie Maldonado, USA/Dominican Republic
Brian Eugenio Herrera, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Caitlin Cahill, Associate Professor, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
Camara Brown, Harvard University, PhD Candidate, USA
Cameroun, Professor, University of Maroua
Camilla Hawthorne, Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Carine Toussaint, Haitian American, Humanitarian, USA
Carlos Pabón Ortega, Retired Professor, University of Puerto Rico
Carlos Ulises Decena, Professor, Rutgers University, USA
Carmen Alvaro Jarrín, College of the Holy Cross, Associate Professor of Anthropology, USA
Carmen Julia Gómez Carrasco, Demographer, Dominican Republic
Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo, Washington State University, Professor, USA
Carolina González, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, USA
Carolyn Choi, Assistant Professor of American Studies, Princeton University, USA
Catherine Garcia, Assistant Professor, Syracuse University, USA
Catherine R Peters, College of William & Mary, Teacher, USA
Cécile Accilien, Professor, University of Maryland College Park, USA
Cecile Edwards, Evolutions Solutions, Creative/Executive Director, USA/Jamaica
Cecilia Benitez Carracedo
Cecilia Lisa Eliceche, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Anthropologist, Brazil
Cecilia Lucero, University of Notre Dame, USA
Celia E Naylor, Barnard College, Professor, USA
César Barros A., Associate Professor, SUNY New Paltz, USA/Chile
César Pérez, Commonwealth School, Professor and Writer, USA
Cesar Rey, Professor, University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras
Chabely Rodriguez
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Theoretical Physicist, Barbadian American
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Distinguished Professor, Syracuse University
Charisse Burden-Stelly, Black Alliance for Peace, Associate Professor of African American Studies, USA
Charlie Mattis, USA
Chiara Alberto, Italy
Chiara Martucci
Chris Lewis, Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Maryland, USA
Christina Davidson, USC, Professor, USA
Christina Lee, Professor, USA
Christina Sharpe, Professor, York University, Canada
Christofer Rodelo, Professor, University of California, Irvine, USA
Claudia Andrea Gotta, Human Rights Activist [Apdh, Argentina], Honorary Professor, National University of Rosario, Argentine
Republic Claudia Maria Angela Fezzardi, High School Teacher, Italy
Claudine Michel, University of California, Santa Barbara/Haitian Studies Association, Retired Professor, USA
Claudio Mir, Son de Aquí, Actor, USA
Club Cultural y Deportivo Francisco Cuevas
Colectivo Afro-Tamiahua
Colectivo Ilé, Puerto Rico
Compas de la Diaspora, USA
Coordinadora Popular Nacional, Dominican Republic
Cornel West, Professor, Teacher Union Theological Seminary, USA
Cristina Corrada Emmanuel, Anthropologist, Puerto Rico
Cruz Caridad Bueno, Ph.D. University of Rhode Island, Assistant Professor of Economics & African Studies
Curtis Deutsch, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Dalton Gata, Pintor, Cuba-RD-PR
Dan Berger, Professor, USA
Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Professor of Classics, Princeton University, USA
DAndra Henriques, USA
Daniel Alarcón, Columbia Journalism School, USA
Daniela Robles, Student, CUNY School of Law, USA
Danielle Roper
Daphne Botti Di Cinto, 8MM Productions, Filmmaker, UK
Daro Sakho, Italy
David Stovall, Ph.D., Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
Dayo F. Gore, Associate Professor, Georgetown University
Deb Vargas, Associate Professor, Yale University
Dennis Hill, Black Alliance for Peace, USA
Derrick Sosa, Black Alliance for Peace Haiti/Americas Team, Researcher, USA
Diana Angulo, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
Diana Umana, Community Organizer, USA
Diego H. Alcalá Laboy, Assistant Professor of Law, Albany Law School, USA
Dimitry Elias Leger
Dinah Orozco Herrera, Ph.D student in the Department of African and African American Studies and Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Diomelca Rivas, Graduate Student, CUNY Graduate Center, USA
Dionne Nickerson, Professor, USA
Dominican Diversity, ASFL
Divya Cherian, Scholar, Princeton, USA
Dodly Alexandre, Politologue, Suisse
Doris Careaga
E Schwartz, University of Michigan, GSRA, USA
Eddie S. Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University, USA
Edna Roman
Edward Paulino, Scholar, USA
Edwidge Danticat, Writer
Eileen Z. Fuentes
Eleanor Craig, Emory University, Postdoctoral Fellow, USA
Elena Lorac, Activist, Dominican Republic
Elena Mangione, University of Notre Dame, Professor, USA
Eliana Mercedes, Graduate Student, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, USA
Elisabeth Kuzel, Project Assistant, Adelphi Germany, Germany
Elise A. Mitchell, Swarthmore College, Assistant Professor of History, USA
Elissa L. Lister, Scholar, Colombia
Elizabeth Acevedo, Writer, USA
Elizabeth Alvarez, Researcher, Columbia University, USA
Elizabeth Manley, Kellogg Endowed Professor of History, Xavier University, USA
Ella, JVP South FL, USA
Eman Abdelhadi, University of Chicago, Professor, USA
Emilia M. Durán Almarza, Associate Professor of English and Gender Studies, University of Oviedo, Spain
Emill Rodriguez
Emily Ortiz, Case Manager, USA
Emmaia Gelman, Sparkplug Foundation, USA
Emmanuel G. Roa, Translator, USA
Emmanuel Ortega, University of Illinois Chicago, USA
Eraldo Souza dos Santos, Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, Brazil/USA
Ernesto Martínez, Professor, University of Oregon, USA
Ernst Pierre Vincent, Researcher, USA
Esther Hernández Medina, Sociologist and Professor, Pomona College, USA
Eveling Carrazco López, Researcher/Educator, GLEFAS, Nicaragua
Evelyne Laurent-Perrault, University of California – Santa Bárbara, Retired Professor
F Montero, USA
Felicia Felix, USA
Fernando Acosta-Rodriguez, Princeton University, Librarian, USA
Fondasyon Jèn Mapou, Haïti
Francheska Alcántara, Artista, USA/República Dominicana
Francine Madera
Francisco E. Robles, University of Notre Dame, Catedrático/Professor, USA
Frank Guridy, Columbia University, USA
G Sethi, Educator, USA
Gabriela Alemán, Writer, Ecuador
Gabriella Pierre Louis, Archivist, Italy
Gabrielle Apollon, Attorney, USA
Gaia Giuliani, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Gary Dauphin, USA
Genesis Garcia, USA
Gianna Baez, Student and Nonprofit Worker, USA
Gina Dent, Professor, UC Santa Cruz, USA
Gina Goico, Artist and PhD Candidate in Performing and Media Arts, Cornell University, USA
Ginetta E.B. Candelario, Professor of Sociology, Smith College, USA
Gioia Kidane Mariam, Italy
Giovanni Allegretti, Researcher, Centre for Social Studies at Coimbra University, Portugal
Giulia Dalmonte, Social Worker, Italy
Gladys Sanchez, Community Activist
Gradissa Fernández Rivera, Retired Professor, Puerto Rico
Dominican Studies Group, CUNY Graduate Center, USA
Guber Estive Oviedo Garcia, Student, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
Gustavo Encarnacion, Conscious Citizen, Dominican Republic
Halle Bryant, Black Alliance for Peace, USA
Hannah Appel, Ph.D., UCLA, Professor of Global Studies & International Development Studies, USA
Heba Gowayed, City College of New York, Associate Professor of Sociology, USA
Hellen Zamora-Bustos, Program Associate, The Fund For New Jersey, USA
Hielen Tekeste, G2 Second Generations Network, Italy
Hilda Guerrero, Caribbean Commune, Puerto Rico
Ifeona Fulani, Brooklyn, USA
Ikaika Ramones, Assistant Professor, Princeton University
INARU8
Ingrid Luciano, Decree of Human Rights and Equality Union of Theatre Artists of the Dominican Republic (Siteard), Theatre Artist and Professor of Philosophy, Dominican
Republic Irene Brisson PhD, Professor of Practice, University of Detroit Mercy, USA
Irene Mata, Wellesley College, Associate Professor, USA
Irene Zaiter, USA
Iris Morales, Author & Activist, Red Sugarcane Press, USA
Isabel Arraiza, Actress-Educator, USA
Isabel Espinal, University of Massachusetts, Librarian, USA
Isabell Krickau, SuTrA e.V., Social Worker, Germany
Ivette Gonzalez, Puerto Rico
J. Kehaulani Kauanui, Ph.D., Professor, USA
Jacob Neis, Princeton University, Graduate Student, USA
Jacqueline Brown, Professor, City University of New York, USA
Jacqueline Lyon, Ph.D. California State University, Long Beach, USA
Jacqueline Villarrubia, Professor, Colgate University
Jade Fernandez, Student, USA
Jahaida H Jesurum, Harvard Kennedy School, USA
Jairo I. Fúnez-Flores, Texas Tech University, Assistant Professor, USA
James Louis-Charles, Sports for Peace and Development Specialist, USA
Jamilah B, A-APRP, BAP, USA
Jasmine Sykes-Kunk, USA
Jasminne Mendez, Writer, USA
Javich Peralta, Theater Director, Dominican Republic
Javiela Evangelista, Assistant Professor, New York City College of Technology CUNY, USA
Javier Sagarna, School of Writers, Director, Spain
Jean Beaman, CUNY Graduate Center, Associate Professor, USA
Jean Leger, USA
Jennifer Kelly, Associate Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Jessica Adams, University of Puerto Rico, Professor, Puerto Rico
Jessica Evangelista, PhD, Dominican Republic
Jessica Marie Johnson, Educator, USA
Jhensen Ortiz, USA
Joanna Clerveaux, STAAR at UF, Student, USA
Johana Londoño, Rutgers University, Associate Professor, USA
Johanna Fernández, Professor, USA
Johnny E. Williams, Professor of Sociology, Trinity College, USA
Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, Assistant Professor of Latin American and Caribbean History, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
José Ayala, Fundación Las Mojarras, Chocó, Colombia
José Emilio Bencosme Zayas, SITEARD, Theatre and Translator, Dominican Republic
José I. Fusté, Professor, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, University of California San Diego, USA
José Juan Pérez Meléndez, Associate Professor, University of California, Davis, USA
José Manuel Baeza, Stony Brook University, PhD candidate in History, Chile
Josefina Saldaña Portillo, New York University, USA
Joseph Pierce, Stony Brook University, Professor, USA
Josh Ginsberg, NYC DOE, Teacher, USA
Joshua B. Guild, Associate Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University, USA
Joshua George, BAP, USA
Jossianna Arroyo-Martinez, Professor, University of Texas – Austin, USA
Joyce Belpre
Juan Cárdenas, Writer, Colombia
Juan Carlos Quintero-Herencia, Writer and Professor, University of Maryland College Park, USA
Juan Miguel Pérez, Professor, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Juana María Rodríguez, Professor, UC Berkeley, USA
Judith Anderson
Judith Rodriguez, IU Bloomington, Professor, USA
Judith Weisenfeld, Princeton University, Professor of Religion, USA
Julian Aguon
Julian G.B., Librarian, Dominican Republic/USA
Juliana Giraldo
Juliet Mathenge, Teacher, USA
Junot Díaz, Writer, USA
Junta de Prietas: Afrofeminist Antiracist Collective, Dominican Republic
Karen Graubart, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame, USA
Karma R. Chávez, Professor, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
Kaysha Corinealdi, Professor, USA/Panama
Kaytura Felix, University Faculty, USA
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Author, USA
Keiselim A. Montás, Independent Scholar and Writer, USA/Dominican Republic
Keish Kim, Rutgers University, Professor, USA
Kelly Happe, University of Georgia, Professor, USA
Kelly Johana Orejuela Castro, Mediator, National Museum, Colombia
Kenneth Barnes, M.D., Jewish Voice for Peace, USA
Kerri Ratcliffe, Research Fellow, Harvard, USA
Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Harvard, Historian, USA
Kianny N. Antigua, Dartmouth College, USA
Kimberly Silverio, Social Worker, USA/Dominican Republic
Kirisitina Sailiata, Macalester College, Assistant Professor, USA
Kirsten Weld, Professor of History, Harvard University, USA
Kristal H. Grant, Alum of Princeton University, USA
Kristina Kay Robinson, Writer/Editor
Kyla Tompkins, Scholar, Canada/US
Kyle East, Jewish Voice for Peace, USA
Kyrah Malika Daniels, Emory University, USA/Haiti
L. Coleman, USA
Lacey Hunter, PhD, Rutgers University, Professor, USA
Larissa Costa, Graduate Student, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Las Costeñas Del Sur
Laura Briggs, Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Laura Catelli, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina
Laura Redruello, Manhattan University
Lauristely Peña Solano, Citizen, Cultural Manager and Teacher, Colombia
Layla Brown, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and African Studies, Northeastern University, USA
Lázaro Lima, Professor, CUNY, USA
Lebirad Taveras
Leena Eisenmann, Sociologist and Anthropologist
Leisy Abrego, Professor, UCLA, USA
Lena Burgos-Lafuente, Professor, Stony Brook University, USA
Lina Meruane, Writer, New York University, USA
Linda K Kerber, Historian, USA
Lisa Ciolli, Italy
Lissette Acosta Corniel, Professor, USA
Lorgia García Peña, PhD, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Lorraine Avila, Rutgers University, Professor, USA
Lourdes Torres, DePaul University, Professor, USA
Lucy Lanfranconi, Employee, Italy
Luther Fleurancois
M. Brinton Lykes, Professor Emerita, Boston College, USA
M. Mena, PhD, CUNY, Educator, USA
Mabel Cuesta, University of Houston, USA/Cuba
Magdalena Lopez, University of Notre Dame, USA
Malena Rodríguez Castro, Professor University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Manuel Chapuseaux, Theatre Artist, Dominican Republic
Marc Lamont Hill, Professor, City University of New York Graduate Center, USA
Marcelo Luzzi, Professor of History, University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras
Marcus Johnson, Professor of Political Science, USA
Mari Mari Narváez
María del Carmen Baerga, Professor, Department of History, University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras
María Isabel Flota Ayala, Mexican Social
Communicator Mariana Ferratto
Maribel Núñez, Afro Activist, Dominican Republic
Mariel Acosta, Doctoral Student, CUNY, USA
Mariel Reyes, Scenic Theater Technician, USA
Marion Christina Rohrleitner, UTEP, College Professor, USA
Marisel Moreno, Professor, University of Notre Dame, USA
Marisol LeBrón, Associate Professor, University of California – Santa Cruz
Marisol Negrón, Director of Latino Studies & Associate Professor of American Studies and Latino Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA
Marla L. Jaksch, Professor, The College of New Jersey, USA
Martha Rivera-Garrido
Martiza Peña Frajul, Baní/USA
Mary Abigail Moore, Student at Northeastern University, USA
Mary Rambaran-Olm, PhD, Public Scholar & Activist, USA
Massiel Torres Ulloa, Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Princeton University, USA
Mateo Vasquez Cortes, Professor, Colombia
Maurice Stierl, Germany
Max Weiss, Princeton University, Associate Professor, USA
Mayra Santos-Febres, Center for Afro Virtual Research and Archive, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Medhin Paolos, Filmmaker, Italy
Melisa Hussain, PhD Student, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, USA
Melissa Castillo-Garsow, Ph.D., Lehman College, USA
Mercedes Frias, Activist and Political Leader, Italy/Dominican Republic
Michael Ring, USA
Michel-Ange Joseph, President, Fundación Cónclave Investigativo de las Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales (CIJYS), Chile
Michèle Stephenson, Rada Studio, Brooklyn
Miguel Martínez, Professor of Spanish, University of Chicago
Miguel Valerio, Professor, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
Mihreteab Paolos, Italy
Milagros Ricourt, Professor, Lehman College, CUNY, USA
Miriam Aschkenasy, MD, MPH, MPA
Miriam Neptune, USA
Miriam Zúñiga, Mental Health Provider, USA
Mónica Huerta, Scholar, USA
Mordecai Lyon, writer, USA
Movimiento Reconoci.do, Dominican
Republic Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores (MST), Dominican Republic
Mujeres Sociopolíticas Mama Tingo
Myriam Gurba, Writer
Myriam J. A. Chancy, Professor & Writer, USA
Myrna Joseph
Nachi De los Santos, "I'm Not Yelling! I'm Dominican" Podcast, Co-Host and Creator, USA
Nadia Mosquera-Muriel, UNC Chapel Hill, Assistant Professor, USA
Nadine Naber, Professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Naimeh Lawrence
Nancy Flores, Nonprofit Sector, USA
Naomi Chitali, Italy
Naomi Murakawa, Associate Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University, USA
Natalie L. Belisle, Assistant Professor, Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures, University of Southern California
Natalie Muñoz, Assistant Professor, Dominican American, USA
Natasha Heath, Maternal Health Advocate, USA
Natasha Lightfoot, Associate Professor, Columbia University, USA
Nelly Rosario, Writer, Educator, USA
Nelson Santana, Independent Researcher, USA
Neva Besker, Italy
Ngompe Massado, Student, USA
Nicolas Lucero, University of Georgia, Associate Professor
Noelia A. Acosta
Noelia Quintero Herencia, Research Foundation, CUNY, USA
Norma Lozano Jackson, PhD, The Norma Lozano Jackson Foundation, Retired Professor, USA
Norman R. Storer Corrada, Museum Collections Manager, USA
Nyya Toussaint, Rev., Lanbi ak Manchèt, USA
Olga Rodríguez-Ulloa, Professor, University of Indiana Bloomington, USA
P. Gabrielle Foreman, Professor, USA
Pablo A King
Pam Butler, Associate Teaching Professor, University of Notre Dame, USA
Pamela Calla, New York University, Professor, USA
Pamela Voekel, Associate Professor of History, Dartmouth College
Pamela Zaiter, Educator, Department of Education of New York City, USA
Paola De Santo, University of Georgia, Professor, USA
Patricia Encarnacion, Artista, USA
Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Patrick Sylvain, Professor, Writer, USA
Pedro Rafael Lafontaine Ripol, Director of Zircón Teatro, Actor and Theater Director, Dominican Republic
Pepón Osorio, Artista, USA
Petra Rivera-Rideau, Associate Professor, Wellesley College, USA
Premilla Nadasen, Professor, Barnard College, USA
Quisqueya Lora, Princeton University, USA
R. Calosso, Researcher-Doctoral Student, The CUNY Graduate Center.
Rachel Afi Quinn, Associate Professor, University of Houston, USA
Rachel Cantave, Assistant Professor, USA
Rafael Díaz
Rafael Pina Estevez, Activist, Chile
Rafael Trelles, Pintor, Puerto Rico
Raj Chetty, St. John's University, Professor, USA
Raphael Stimphil MD, USA
Raquel Virginia Cabrera, Writer, USA
RaShelle Peck
Rashida Charles, University of Pennsylvania, PhD candidate, USA
Reena Goldthree, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Regina Mills, Professor, USA
Régine Jean-Charles, Northeastern University, Professor, USA
Renaye Manley, Manley Consulting Group, Principal, USA
René Cordero, Professor of History, John Jay College – CUNY, USA
Renee Tajima-Peña, Professor and Filmmaker, UCLA, USA
Renelde Adarkwah, Business Owner, USA
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Booby-trap Attacks on Lebanon: Indian Army Chief’s Shocking Views


 October 11, 2024
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India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi.

India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, in a TV interview to ‘Firstpost’ on 01st October 2024, has unabashedly defended the method adopted by Israel to use booby-trap weapons in Lebanon by describing it as a “masterstroke”. The Army Chief appears to be wholly oblivious of the fact that India is a ‘High Contracting Party’ to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons of 1981, which prohibits the use of booby-trap weapons. Or was the Army Chief actually voicing the opinion of the Government of India, which – despite being a signatory to the CCW – has maintained studied silence on the mindless and illegal use of proscribed booby-trap weapons by Israeli intelligence agencies in Lebanon?

On 17th September 2024, at around 15.30 hrs local time, thousands of pagers were simultaneously detonated in Lebanon killing 12 people and inflicting injuries on about 3000 others. Outside of Lebanon, 14 people were injured in similar blasts in neighbouring Syria.

Although the attacks appeared to be a complex Israeli operation targeting Hezbollah, “an enormous amount of civilian casualties were also reported, as the detonations occurred wherever members’ pagers happened to be — including homes, cars, grocery stores and cafes.”

That was not all. The following day, at around 17.00 hrs local time, several other hand-held devices were targeted, including walkie-talkie radios, mobile phones, laptops, etc., killing 20 more people and injuring about 450 others. The indelible marks of Israel’s dirty tricks departments were very much discernable behind these terrorist attacks as is evident from the following report from CNN:

“…CNN has learned that the explosions were the result of a joint operation by Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad, and the Israeli military.  Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, tacitly acknowledged his country’s role the day after the pager attack, praising “excellent achievements, together with the Shin Bet, together with Mossad.”

Shell Company

Apparently about five months ago, Hezbollah had procured about 5,000 new pagers from a Taiwanese company ‘Gold Apollo’ thatwere actually manufactured and sold by a company based in Budapest, Hungary, which had a license to use its brand on the pagers. However, the New York Times [‘How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers’, 20th September 2024] has uncovered that, for all intents and purposes, the Hungarian company was just a shell company:

“By all appearances, B.A.C. Consulting was a Hungary-based company that was under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In fact, it was part of an Israeli front, according to three intelligence officers briefed on the operation. They said at least two other shell companies were created as well to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers.

B.A.C. did take on ordinary clients, for which it produced a range of ordinary pagers. But the only client that really mattered was Hezbollah, and its pagers were far from ordinary. Produced separately, they contained batteries laced with the explosive PETN, according to the three intelligence officers.

The pagers began shipping to Lebanon in the summer of 2022 in small numbers, but production was quickly ramped up after Mr. Nasrallah denounced cellphones.”

Implanting and exploding as little as 3 grams of PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate – a stable high explosive chemical compound) in each device was sufficient to cause havoc. Similarly, the handheld radio sets were also recently procured purportedly from a company with logos of the Japanese manufacturer ‘Icom’.

According to the Associated Press (AP): “A sales executive at the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese walkie-talkie maker Icom told the AP that the exploded radio devices in Lebanon appear to be a knock-off product and not made by Icom.” Apparently, Israeli intelligence agencies had succeeded in implanting the explosive devices into the walkie-talkie sets and other electronic items before they reached Lebanon.

Attacks Condemned

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack as “a serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards”, according to the state-run NNA news outlet. UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), through a statement issued on 19 September 2024, also condemned the blasts in no uncertain terms:

 “UN human rights experts today condemned the malicious manipulation of thousands of electronic pagers and radios to explode simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria as “terrifying” violations of international law….

‘To the extent that international humanitarian law applies, at the time of the attacks there was no way of knowing who possessed each device and who was nearby,’ the experts said.

‘Simultaneous attacks by thousands of devices would inevitably violate humanitarian law, by failing to verify each target, and distinguish between protected civilians and those who could potentially be attacked for taking a direct part in hostilities.’

‘Such attacks could constitute war crimes of murder, attacking civilians, and launching indiscriminate attacks, in addition to violating the right to life,’ the experts said.”

Humanitarian law additionally prohibits the use of booby-traps disguised as apparently harmless portable objects where specifically designed and constructed with explosives – and this could include a modified civilian pager, the experts said.”

“Masterstroke”

On the contrary, India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, in a TV interview with Firstpost’s Managing Editor, Palki Sharma, has expressed views that are absolutely shocking. General Dwivedi has actually gone to praise the methods adopted by Israel to carry out its terrorist attacks as a “masterstroke”. This is clear from the text of the relevant excerpts from the video clip of the said TV interview that is reproduced below. Palki Sharma did ask a very pertinent question to the General.

Q: Palki Sharma [at 0.15 seconds of the video clip]:

“It seems some disturbing precedence being set in this conflict [in West Asia], including the use of everyday gadgets and turning pagers and walkie-talkies into bombs and it makes people think everywhere in the world that we are all carrying some gadgets or the other at all points and we are all sitting ducks. So does India share this concern about these methods and what are we doing to ensure that we are not at the receiving end of something like this?”

 A: Army Chief [at 01.36 minutes of the clip]:

“In this case Israel has decided very clearly that Hamas is primary focus, which I must maintain. So what is done is completely firstly wipeout Hamas opposition. Thereafter, it said okay let us see on the other side. And if you see the pager what you are talking about it is a Taiwan company being supplied to a Hungarian company. Hungarian company thereafter giving it to them. The shell company, which has been created, is something, which is a masterstroke by the Israelis. And for that it requires years and years of preparation. So it means they were prepared for it. And that is what it counts. That the war does not start the way you start fighting; it starts the day you start planning. And that is what is most important. So they had planned all these activities and what they did firstly they made sure that the pagers get blasted people get injured people died. Okay, now what happens? Perforce now you have to shift to mobile. The movement you shift to mobile what happens your signals are getting triangulated…. [At 02.58 minute] Coming to our side, yes the same threat arises. So supply chain interruption, interception, is something we have to be very watchful. So we have to have various levels of inspection on all these issues whether at the technological level or as well as manual level also to make sure that such things do not get repeated in our case.”

 Shocking Views

The Interviewer had asked a pointed question: “So does India share this concern about these methods? She was referring specifically to “some disturbing precedence being set in this conflict [in West Asia]”. However, the Army Chief desisted from responding to this specific query. Instead, the General went on to praise the methods Israel had adopted to execute its terrorist attacks:

“The shell company, which has been created [to carry out the terrorist attacks], is something, which is a masterstroke by the Israelis. And for that it requires years and years of preparation. So it means they were prepared for it. And that is what counts. That the war does not start the day you start fighting; it starts the day you start planning. And that is what is most important. So they had planned all these activities and what they did firstly they made sure that the pagers get blasted people get injured people died.”

The Army Chief did not express any “concern” about the methods used; the General remained totally unmoved by the “disturbing precedence being set”! The General chose to eulogize not condemn Israel’s terrorist acts. However, the General did dwell on the precautionary steps that India should take to safeguard its security and ward off such threats.

India’s Principled Stand

How could the Army Chief have been oblivious of the fact that India was a ‘High Contracting Party’ to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons of 1981, which prohibits the use of booby-trap weapons, and had ratified the same on 01st March 1984?

How is it possible that the MEA had never briefed the General regarding India’s considered position as a ‘High Contracting Party’ on the matter, which India reiterates before the UN every year? For example, in 2007, India’s position regarding Protocol–II to the CCW was as follows:

“In stipulating that mines, booby traps or other devices must not be targeted against civilians or civilian objects or used indiscriminately, the Protocol effectively applies the core principles of the CCW Convention concerning the prohibition on the use of weapons that are indiscriminate and the prohibition on the use of weapons of a nature that cause unnecessary suffering or superfluous injury.”

UN’s Office for Disarmament Affairs had made it very clear that:

“By ratifying the CCW, States commit to the: …Prohibition and regulation of the use and transfer of non-detectable anti-personnel mines, boobytraps, and other devices;…”

Apparently, the General was also unaware that Israel had carried out the terrorist attacks despite having acceded to the CCW on 22ndMarch 1995, which is nothing but display of utter contempt for even the treaties that Israel professes to abide by.

GOI Should Explain

It is amply clear that the Army Chief had made pronouncements that are wholly contrary to the principled stand adopted by the Government of India before the United Nations for the last 53 years. Or has the Government of India suddenly reversed its principled stand and decided to tacitly support the terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Israeli regime?

Anyway, the Government of India is not only duty bound to explain why it has refrained from condemning the terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Israeli regime on Lebanon on 17th & 18th September 2024 but also is duty bound to clarify how the Army Chief could have made statements that are wholly contrary to India’s principled stand against use of booby-trap weapons.

Booby Trap Attacks in India

The Army Chief’s admiration for methods used by Israel to perpetrate its booby-trap attacks is all the more bizarre because India itself has been a victim of such terrorist acts from several quarters on numerous occasions for the past several decades and is continuing to face such threats. The most infamous of such attacks include: (a) the serial ‘transistor bomb blasts’ of 10/11 May 1985 in Delhi, Haryana, and Utter Pradesh that killed 85 people and injured another 150; (b) the Mumbai serial blasts of 12 March 1993 that killed 257 people and inflicted injuries on 1400 others; and the serial train blasts of 11 July 2006 in Mumbai that killed 189 people and injured over 800 others. Furthermore, ‘Maoist’ groups in India have been regularly using booby-trap weapons with telling effect.  Under the circumstances, how has the Army Chief gone on to justify the methods chosen by Israel to use booby-trap weapons? The Army Chief has a lot to explain.

Adverse Consequences

The concerned global community has suddenly woken up to the ramifications of the misuse of mass-consumed electronic gadgets for terrorist activities. In the opinion of Subimal Bhattacharjeea defence and cyber security analyst, there are three aspects to this massive impending threat:

“First, the usage of digital technology to levels that force multiple physical attacks and as a combination, lead to concerns over creating a larger havoc. With artificial intelligence becoming a major factor in enhancing kinetic weapons capabilities, the horizon is more complex.

Second, is the use of such techniques a harbinger for more deadly forms of cyber attacks? Can nations be allowed to go to such an extent of causing violence and death using digital techniques?

Third, how will the supply chain ecosystem deal with such attacks? Modern technology supply chains are incredibly complex, with components and software often sourced from multiple countries and suppliers. This complexity creates ample opportunities for malicious actors to introduce compromised hardware or software at various points in the supply chain. These compromises can be extremely difficult to detect and may lie dormant until activated for an attack.”

Until and unless concrete steps are promptly initiated to prevent gross misuse of mass-consumed electronic gadgets for terrorist purposes – especially by States such as Israel – the adverse consequences that the entire human society would be compelled to face would be unimaginable.

N.D. Jayaprakash is Joint Secretary, Delhi Science Forum and Co-Convenor, Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti (Coalition for supporting the Cause of the Bhopal Gas Victims).