a1515: BBC: Journalists Worry About Freedoms in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>


Haiti: Highlights of Signal FM Radio news 1230 gmt 27 Mar
02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 28, 2002



"0730 Appointment" newscast; passages within slantlines in
French Reception: good. Duration of broadcast: 60 minutes.
Figures in brackets indicate length of time of each item

1. Introduction and headlines. (7 min)

2. The Committee To Protect the Rights of Journalists, an
international organization based in New York, says it is
worried because of the situation of the press in Haiti. In
a report on the situation of journalists in the world, the
organization denounces and condemns violations of
journalists' rights in Haiti. The committee, which demands
justice for Jean Dominique and Brignol Lindor, says it is
ready to support all journalists who are experiencing
difficulties in Haiti. Recording from Voice of America
interview with Merlene Smith, a member of the committee on
the violations of journalists' rights in Haiti. (4 min)

3. Report by Robens Cheriza: Reporters Without Borders,
RSF, pleads in favour of respect for the rights of all
journalists. RSF, which accuses the government in
Port-au-Prince of standing in the way of justice, calls for
sanctions against more than 24 Haitian personalities,
including Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The RSF has published the
names of several Haitian officials on its latest list of
predators of the press. In its report, RSF mentions attacks
against RSF Secretary General Robert Menard during his
latest visit to Haiti. (5 min)

4. On 26 March, French jurist (Louis Joanis) was nominated
as an independent expert in charge of investigating human
rights in Haiti. (Joanis) was previously part of the UN
working group on arbitrary arrests. (1 min)

5. Report by Carl Dieudonne on a workshop on human rights
in Haiti that was sponsored by the Superior Institute for
Political Training (Institut Superieur de Formation
Politique et Sociale, ISFPOS) yesterday at the Montana
Hotel. According to ISFPOS official Garaudy Laguerre, this
initiative falls within the efforts to improve human rights
in Haiti. The workshop was held on the themes: respect for
human rights, judicial procedure, and the state of the
situation. ISFPOS Director Laguerre thinks it is a good
time to initiate a critical reflection and to make an
assessment of human rights in Haiti. The ISFPOS officials
have promised to support all human rights activists in the
country. (4 min)

6. Ads. (4 min)

7. Report by Kenson Jean-Louis: The case of Ronald Cadavre
could not be held yesterday because of violent
demonstrations by Cadavre supporters in front of the Public
Prosecutor's Office. Public Prosecutor Josue Pierre-Louis
decided to "//postpone the hearing to a later date//" for
security reasons. Cadavre is accused of having murdered a
man in front of the Legislative Palace. The demonstrators
were chanting "If Ronald is not released, the country will
be blocked." (4 min)

8. Haitian National Police (PNH) spokesman Jean Dady Simeon
says all units have been mobilized in order to establish
order in La Saline in the event the situation there
deteriorates. He says justice must triumph, because we are
under the rule of law. He also explains that measures have
been taken to keep the peace in the vicinity of the Public
Prosecutor's Office. He says the police are there to
maintain a climate of peace and serenity in the country. (2
min)

9. After many years in hiding outside of Haiti, US
authorities yesterday repatriated Jackson Joanis, who was
judged and sentenced in absentia for the murder of former
Justice Minister Guy Malary. PNH spokesman Simeon explains
that the Haitian authorities have received 20 repatriated
Haitians, including Joanis, who will be handed over to the
judicial authorities. (2 min)

10. Ads. (2 min)

11. Economic segment by Georges Henry, Jr, on Bush's vision
of development, as presented at the international
conference in Monterrey. This vision is based on a pact
between wealthy and poor countries, conditioning economic
assistance to economic and political reforms, including
democratic practices and respect for human rights. (3 min)

12. Ads followed by international news. (3 min)

13. Report by Luc Jean-Gerard: PNH spokesman Simeon has
promised to give a judicial response to the statements of
attorney Rigaud Duplan. The lawyer explained that
Richardson Pierre, who was arrested for his involvement in
the 17 December 2001 coup d'etat attempt, told the
examining judge that he did not know Guy Francois or the
other people mentioned as participants in the coup attempt
and that Simeon is the one who asked him to name Francois.
Simeon says he is dismayed by Duplan, whom he accuses of
having slandered him. Simeon says Duplan believes that he
can make the 17 December victims forget what happened to
them. "I have already consulted my lawyer in order to give
a juridical response to what I consider a slander," he
says. (4 min)

14. The Convergence representatives in the south demand
justice for Gerard Fleurime, who was killed by the
bodyguards of Deputy Jean Candio. The Convergence officials
in the south denounce a number of violations being
perpetrated against its members. A Convergence spokesman
explains. (4 min)

15. Ads. (5 min)

16. The Civil Society Initiative Group, GISC, asks the main
players in the political arena to create a climate of
truth, responsibility, and trust in the country. In a
communique published by the GISC, it asks the political
officials to give up demagoguery and lies and demand the
implementation of the law against culprits and the
disarmament of armed civilians. Rosny Desroches, a GISC
official, says: "//I do not think that the climate is
favourable to the resumption of the negotiations. I think
other measures must be taken. In particular, the
investigations of the 17 December events must at least
begin. I know that a tripartite commission must be set up
to assess the losses and damages that were caused on 17
December. There must be a compensation process, too. I
think that all of this must be done before we can speak of
a favourable climate for the resumption of the
negotiations." (2 min)

17. During a routine search of a boat that arrived in Miami
from Haiti on 24 March, US customs officials seized a large
quantity of drugs, according to the Associated Press. The
drugs are valued at about 8.8m dollars. (1 min)

18. Cultural news by Evelyne Dacilus: Culture Minister
Lilas Desquiron is supposed to go to France on 27 March
within the framework of the preparations for the
celebration of the bicentennial of Haiti's independence.
She will meet with several personalities of African origin.
(4 min)

19. News summary. (3 min)

Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole 1230 gmt
27 Mar 02

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.



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