a1558: This Week in Haiti 20:3 4/13/2002 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

"This Week in Haiti" is the English section of HAITI PROGRES
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                           HAITI PROGRES
              "Le journal qui offre une alternative"

                      * THIS WEEK IN HAITI *

                         April 3 - 9, 2002
                           Vol. 20, No. 3

OUTRAGE MARKS SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF  DOMINIQUE/LOUISSAINT MURDERS

Two years ago Apr. 3, paid assassins shot and killed prominent
radio journalist Jean Dominique and his station's night watchman,
Jean-Claude Louissaint.

Investigating Judge Claudy Gassant, whose mandate was pointedly
not renewed by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in January,
determined that high-placed figures in Aristide's Lavalas Family
party (FL) may be involved in the murders (see Haïti Progrès,
Vol. 19 No. 48, 2/13/02). Senator Dany Toussaint has been
protected by the FL-dominated parliament's refusal to lift his
immunity. The police have refused to carry out arrest warrants on
other figures, who circulate openly.

On this second anniversary, numerous human rights groups, both in
Haiti and abroad, have issued statements condemning the ruling
party's stone-walling of the murder investigation. An
international consortium (the Committee to Judge Duvalier, the
Haiti Support Group, Human Rights Watch, the International Legal
Resources Centre, Rights & Democracy, Trocaire, the Washington
Office on Latin America, and the World Association on Christian
Communication) issued a "Message of Solidarity with Haitian
Organizations Working for Justice" in which it said that
"[j]ustice for Jean Dominique means hope for all Haitians who
live with the constant threat of violence and insecurity, a hope
for respect for human rights and an end to impunity."

In Haiti, the anniversary will be marked by a nationwide
mobilization of masses, marches, concerts, and other symbolic
actions. The Carrefour Feuilles Cab Drivers Union will dangle a
black ribbon with a picture of the slain journalist instead of
the red one which usually adorns their rear-view mirrors. About
80 voudou priests in the south will hold a special ceremony. The
Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation (Echo the Voice of Jean
Dominique), the Haitian organization leading the campaign for
justice in this case, will hold a benefit showing of Jonathon
Demme's "The Agronomist," a film-in-progress about Dominique's
life.

On Apr. 1, Michelle Montas, Dominique's widow, explained on the
airwaves of Radio Haiti Inter that the many organizations working
for justice in this case decided to "decentralize the
mobilization around the country" this year. "While two years ago
a large demonstration was possible, today these organizations say
they fear provocation and have opted for dispersed
demonstrations," she explained.

Of the many statements issued for this occasion, one of the most
instructive is that of the Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation,
which we have translated from French and reproduced below.

OPEN LETTER FROM THE EKO VWA JEAN DOMINIQUE FOUNDATION TO PRIME
MINISTER YVON NEPTUNE

April 2, 2002

Mr. Yvon Neptune
Prime Minister

On April 3, 2002, all those whom Haïti considers as militants for
democracy and defenders of human rights and as its true friends
in the world will mark the second anniversary of the
assassination of Jean Dominique and Jean-Claude Louissaint. The
commemoration of a loss is always filled with sadness, but this
one will also be marked by deep feelings of disgust and anger in
the face of this particularly revolting example of justice
denied, in a country which unfortunately has so many such cases.

Our dismay is all the greater since this grave insult to the
Haitian people's demand for justice can be directly attributed to
a political team who came to power precisely in the name of this
demand. With some rare exceptions, the members of this team whom
you direct along with President Aristide, through indifference or
even actively, have increased the obstacles blocking the search
for truth and justice in this murky affair.

Here you are today at the head of the Government of the Republic,
after having chaired the Parliament for almost two years. We
expect that in your new post, you will show more effectiveness
and, above all, more commitment to the principles which you
defended as a militant for democracy.

As you begin your mandate, we feel it necessary, without illusion
but with determination, to stress to you your fundamental duties
and your particular responsibilities with regard to the case of
April 3, 2000.

You are the head of the government, and in this capacity the
Constitution makes it your responsibility, jointly with the Head
of State [President], to guarantee the correct functioning of
national institutions, especially with regard to justice, public
security and guaranteeing civil liberties. By the same token, you
control, through your ministers, all the financial, material and
human resources of the state. Thus, it is incumbent upon you to
provide the judicial branch with the means necessary to
accomplish its mission. Therefore you have the choice of
respecting the judiciary's independence as stipulated by the
Constitution or of transforming it into an evil mockery, as the
executive branch has often done throughout our history.

You head the High Council of the National Police (CSPN), and thus
it is your duty to require the police force to fulfill its
mission with effectiveness and impartiality. As we have done with
the Head of State, we expressly demand that you see to it that
the warrants issued months ago for the arrest of Richard Solomon
and Frank Joseph are carried out, within the framework of the
investigation of the double assassination of April 3, 2000. We
are still shocked that wanted posters, with photographs of these
fugitives from justice, are not posted in all police stations
around the country and that there has been no call to the public,
through the government's media outlets, to facilitate their
arrest. By the same token, we consider it urgent that the results
of the investigations into the suspicious deaths of Wilner
Lalanne and Panel Rénélus, two key witnesses held by this police
force which you now direct, be made public.

You are, Mr. Prime Minister, one of the key leaders of the
Lavalas Family, the party which holds absolute control of the
Parliament. Thus you must have the members of this party apply
the same discipline for lifting the immunity from
Parliamentarians implicated in criminal affairs as allowed your
confirmation with exemplary speed and practically without debate.

There it is, Mr. Prime Minister, the essence of our demands. We
formulate them, without illusion, but with a determination,
which, we assure you, will know no respite. We are deeply
convinced, in fact, that on the emblematic case of Jean Dominique
and Jean-Claude Louissaint depends the very survival on this
democracy, for which the Haitian people have paid so dearly and
which finds itself today very endangered.

Patrick Elie for the Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation

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