8277: Fears for safety of judge investigating Radio Haiti Inter murder (fw

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Fears for safety of judge investigating Radio Haiti Inter murder
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 12, 2001

Text of report by Haitian Metropole radio on 11 June

The investigation into the murder [on 3 April 2000 of Radio Haiti Inter
Director] Jean Dominique is drawing to a close. Examining Judge Claudy
Gassant apparently sent to the public prosecutor on Friday 8 June the report
on the investigation into the murder of Dominique and Jean-Claude
Louissaint, guardian of Radio Haiti Inter.

The public prosecutor has one week in which to study the document and make
comments if necessary to Judge Gassant. After that, the judge will give his
ruling. At the same time, a group of civil society organizations is
denouncing a plot to murder Judge Gassant.

These organizations - the Ecumenical Centre for Human Rights, the Echo of
Jean Dominique Foundation, the Haitian Reporters' Association [AJH], and the
Human Rights Defence Organization [NCHR] - warn officials and ask them to
ensure the judge's safety and to take all possible steps for the triumph of
justice.

In an open letter to the people, the signatories ask President Aristide to
assume his responsibilities as he had declared on 3 April at Radio Haiti
Inter.

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 11 Jun 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.