Many of the federations and unions within CTH were attacked following February 29 2004. One of these was FAENNE (Federation of Associations of Teachers in the North and Northeast -Haiti). A FAENNE official explained in late 2004 that "The man who came with my arrest warrant is the OPL representative for the north." For over a year members of the OPL, local ex-military and the CNEH private school union intimidated members of FAENNE. The OPL has long advocated privatizaiton, while FAENNE has advocated public education for all. Some FAENNE workers were fired from jobs, others were threatened with jail and had property attacked. FAENNE workers did not have a cent, no offices or equipment left after repeated attacks, they were not able to afford travel even to CTH national meetings.

But we now have received good news from AUMOHD (Association des Universitaires Motivés Pour Une Haïti Des Droits). FAENNE and AUMOHD report that the CNEH has finally ended its campaign of intimidation. The workers of FAENNE are now secure. But they still need support! The authorities have failed to investigate or jail many of the ex-military in the north of Haiti that have persecuted and even killed trade unionists.

Jacob Jean François, General Secretary of FAENNE