[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
7586: FW: AI press release - Haiti (fwd)
From: Merrie Archer <MArcher@nchr.org>
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
3 April 2001
AI Index AMR 36/007/2001 - News Service Nr. 61
Haiti: killing of Jean Dominique must not go unpunished
One year on from the killing of prominent Haitian radio journalist and
longtime advocate of human rights, Jean Dominique, the circumstances of his
death have yet to be clarified and those responsible brought to justice,
Amnesty International said today.
Jean Dominique was shot dead on 3 April 2000 by unknown assailants who
waited for him outside the courtyard of his radio station, Radio Haiti
Inter. Station guard Jean Claude Louissaint was killed with him.
Jean Dominique, an outspoken advocate of change during the Duvalier
period, had continued to publicly draw attention to anti-democratic
tendencies within diverse sectors of the Haitian political scene and
society.
"The fact that this well-known activist with unquestionable
credentials in the struggle to build a better Haiti was killed under a
democratically-elected government raised questions about the state of
respect for the rule of law and human rights in Haiti," Amnesty
International said.
"The Haitian authorities must make every effort to guarantee that
full, prompt and impartial justice is done in the killings of Jean
Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint," the organization added.
A call for the cycle of impunity overshadowing the Haitian justice
system to be broken and for those responsible for the deaths to be brought
to justice was made on 3 March 2001 through an open letter to President
Jean Bertrand Aristide broadcast by Radio Haiti Inter, backed by numerous
Haitian and international organizations. In a subsequent visit to the
station, President Aristide publicly committed his efforts to ensure that
nothing impede the full, independent and impartial functioning of the
justice system in the case.
Background
The killings of Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint caused a great
deal of fear, tension and self-censorship, especially as they were followed
by a series of acts of intimidation and threats against other journalists.
At the same time, civil society has reacted forcefully, with thousands of
people throughout the country repeatedly taking to the streets to show
their support for efforts to bring those responsible for the killings to
justice. Backed by strong public concern, the investigating judge
responsible for the case has overcome several obstacles impeding a full
investigation into the events.
\ENDS
public document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW web :
http://www.amnesty.org