PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                           Contact:  Mikael Moore

December 16, 2005                                                       (202) 225-2201

CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS AND 41 OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESSURGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO SEEK THE RELEASE

OF FR. JEAN-JUSTE FROM PRISON IN HAITI

        Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to take action to seek the release of Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste from prison in Haiti and enable him to obtain medical care.  A total of 42 Members of Congress signed her letter.  The text of the letter follows:

        We are deeply concerned about the continuing imprisonment and precarious health of Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste in Haiti.  We urge you to take action to seek Fr. Jean-Juste's immediate release from prison and ensure that he is able to obtain the medical care he needs.        Fr. Jean-Juste is a widely-respected Catholic priest and a courageous advocate for peace and justice.  Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his unconditional release.  The injustice of his imprisonment is all the more blatant because of his failing health.          On December 1, Fr. Jean-Juste received a medical exam by Dr. John Carroll, who reported that he has swollen lymph nodes in his neck and armpits and an elevated white blood count.  This could indicate any of several serious medical conditions, including a blood cancer or an infectious disease.  Many blood cancers have a good prognosis if they are treated early by specialists.  It is therefore imperative that Fr. Jean-Juste be able to receive prompt medical attention.

        We respectfully request that you urge the Interim Government of Haiti to release Fr. Jean-Juste immediately and enable him to obtain appropriate medical care.  We appreciate your attention to our concerns.  Your action at this critical time could save the life of this gentle priest.

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List of SignersMaxine Waters   Tom Lantos William Delahunt Barbara LeeJan SchakowskyJohn ConyersJoseph CrowleyCharles Rangel  Barney Frank     Peter DeFazio Eleanor Holmes NortonDonald Payne Edolphus TownsLynn Woolsey    Major R. Owens Marcy Kaptur Sheila Jackson-Lee Corrine Brown Kendrick B. Meek         Raúl GrijalvaJulia Carson Robert Wexler Fortney Pete Stark James P. McGovernRobert AndrewsThomas Allen     Donna Christensen Carolyn Kilpatrick Al GreenMaurice Hinchey Earl BlumenauerCynthia McKinney Dennis Kucinich Sherrod Brown    Tammy BaldwinMelvin L. Watt  Bobby L. Rush   Betty McCollum  Robert Menendez Jim McDermott        Gregory Meeks Michael Capuano

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