a1978: Re: a1962: a1958: Lawyers of Dubious Distinction Protest Judicial (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

FROM:Kevin Pina            <kpinbox@hotmail.com>


So exactly who are these two "esteemed" barristers leading a "Lawyer's
Strike" to call attention to an ailing judiciary branch in Haiti?

Let's begin with Rene Julien, a Haitian attorney who is the president of the
political party known as "Action Democratique Pour Batir Haiti" or Action
Democratic to Build Haiti.

When the former military mounted a campaign to return to legitimacy in
September of 1996, they were represented in their cause by none other than
Rene Julien of the USAID funded Amicale des Juristes, and Serge Beaulieu of
Radio Liberte, a virulent enemy of the Lavalas movement and outspoken
coup-supporter.

The week of September 30, 2001, Julien sent a letter to President Aristide,
asking him to "resign the office of the presidency" which he stated was
"illegally occupied since February 7, 2001". Julien also publicly stated
that same week that he would do everything in his power to "force the
grossly incompetent Aristide, who loves to burn opponents alive, out of
office".

The second "esteemed" barrister is Joseph Rigaud Duplan, who is a three-time
president of the Haitian Bar Association, whose clients include some of
Haiti's top ex-military. Mr. Duplan was "blacklisted" by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control for his support of the miltary dictatorship following
the 1991 coup. According to the OFAC, he served as the Minister of Economy
and Finance under the final coup regime prior to the US intervention. He was
finally "unblacklisted" by virtue of the following order: "The following
changes have occurred with respect to the Office of Foreign Assets Control
Listing of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Entities since
December 7, 1993: 10/16/94 Effective 12:01am, President Clinton lifted
sanctions against Haiti. All names designated with "[HAITI]" on the SDNLIST
were removed. Delete all of the following: DUPLAN, Rigaud, Minister
(Ministre), MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE,; a.k.a. MEF; Haiti; DOB 01 Aug
41(individual) [HAITI]*".

The real irony is that Mr. Duplan has since been rewarded by the US
Consulate who refer to him as a credible attorney in Haiti available to
American citizens in need of legal council. The following can be found on
the US Consulate website:

Consular Section of the United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti LIST OF
ATTORNEYS IN HAITI

This list of attorneys is provided to aid U.S. citizens in need of legal
advice or services within Haiti.

DUPLAN, Rigaud
77, Rue Lamarre, 2eme Etage Port-au-Prince,
Haiti Phone: 222-9156; 223-6233
Education: Was graduated from the Faculty of Law, State University of Haiti,
1969
Type of Practice: Administrative, Adoption, Banking, Civil, Collection,
Commercial, Copyright, Corporate, Criminal, Divorce, Estate, Foreign
Investments, Labor, Patent, Penal, Real Estate, Trade Disputes, Trademark
Language: Creole, French, English, Spanish



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