12213: Amnesty Int. : Violence in St Raphael plantation must be investigated (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE


AI Index:       AMR 36/007/2002    (Public)
News Service No:         93
31 May 2002

  Haiti: Violence in St Raphael plantation must be investigated

Reports of  human rights violations committed in the context of recent
violence at the Guacimal orange plantation in St. Raphael, department of
the North, must be investigated and those responsible brought to justice,
Amnesty International said today as news emerged of the death of at least
two trade unionists during clashes at the plantation on 27 May.

        On that morning, a group of Guacimal plantation workers
accompanied by members of the Batay Ouvriye trade union federation and two
local journalists arrived at the plantation, which has been the scene of
ongoing threats and violence between workers attempting to unionize and
plantation owners and their supporters, who reportedly include some local
officials.

        According to Batay Ouvriye supporters, they came to carry out the
usual seasonal practice of allocating plots of land to workers for
cultivation of basic foodstuffs. Local authorities and representatives of
the plantation owners have disputed this version, describing the activity
as a land invasion.

        In the ensuing violence guns and other weapons were used and two
elderly members of Batay Ouvriye were reportedly attacked and hacked to
death.  A number of those present during the confrontation were said to
have been injured, including some local officials and the two journalists.
The journalists were among seven participants in the workers' initial
march who were subsequently arrested by police.

        The seven were transferred to Port-au-Prince and are currently
being held in the National Penitentiary.  The two journalists have
reportedly not been given the urgent specialized medical care they need to
treat their injuries.  The authorities have not made it clear on what
charges the seven are being held, although they have now been detained for
four days; the St. Raphael mayor has allegedly accused them of being
'terrorists.'

        "Once again, the rhetoric of 'terrorism' is being used to violate
basic human rights, including the right to be notified of charges and to
have access to medical care in detention. This is not acceptable," Amnesty
International said.





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