a757: CONVERGENCE DEMOCRATIQUE: POLICE OFFICER ASSASSINATED BY A COLLEAGUE BECAUSE OF (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

CONVERGENCE DEMOCRATIQUE
105 Rue Lamartinière HT 6111 Bois Verna,
Port-au-Prince, Haïti

Tel. :   245-3584
Fax: 245-4534
E-mail:  convergencedemocratique@yahoo.com

POLICE OFFICER ASSASSINATED BY A COLLEAGUE BECAUSE OF
ANTI LAVALAS STATEMENTS

Port-au-Prince, February 11, 2002

On Sunday, February 10, 2002 around 1:00 a.m., Police Officer Ricardo
BASTIEN was shot in the head three times by a colleague of the Petit-Goave
police station. Ricardo Bastien, an officer of the PNH and Jehovah's
Witness, did not share the opinion or approve the actions of most of his
colleagues. He often spoke against the immorality, abuse of power, acts of
banditry, and illegal enrichment observed within a police organization that
he called "an organization of bandits." He refused to condone the arbitrary
arrests, arson of private residences, and murder of members of the
Democratic Convergence. His discussions with other members of the police
station often got close to confrontations. He had feared so much for his
life that he announced his upcoming resignation.

His superior grew exasperated by his wisdom, that they perceived as treason,
and decided to eliminate Ricardo Bastien physically. His murder is seen by
the PNH as an internal problem for the institution, a simple formality.

The Democratic Convergence is profoundly disturbed by this new tragedy,
which victimized the peace loving youth of our country. It shares the sorrow
of the family and friends of Ricardo Bastien and offers to them its sincere
condolence.

For the Democratic Convergence:

Hubert de Ronceray,
President of the MDN,
Spokesperson of the MPSN,
Member of the Board of Directors of the Democratic Convergence