12546: St. Vincent Herald on Press in Haiti 071502 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: PSlavin@unicefusa.org

http://www.haitiglobe.com/p/4c/97bd81019d45.html

Journalists seek way out - Article 8
St Vincent Herald, Mon 15 Jul 2002

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - The Association of Haitian Journalists on Thursday
was continuing negotiations with foreign embassies with a view to helping
journalists facing death threats leave the country, President Guy Delva
said.

Delva told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that some of the
journalists have American visas.

He said the group included the leading and more senior journalists in
Haiti.

The threats against the journalists, in the aftermath of a coup attempt
against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, were reportedly made by persons
aligned with the ruling party.

Delva said Haitian journalists were facing a very difficult and frightening
situation. "Many journalists feel very afraid, they don't go to their radio
stations to work because they are afraid. They have been receiving threats
from groups and since Monday there are at least two radio stations which
stopped broadcasting news," Delva told CMC. "Those two radio stations
continue to play music and no news at all on those radio stations and
several journalists of the two radio stations and of some other radio
stations, have gone undercover and it's a difficult situation for many
journalists here now," he added.

On December 3, journalist Brignol Lindor was hacked to death with a machete
by a group of people in the town of Petite Gouve. He was buried last week
Tuesday.

It is believed that his murder and the recent attacks on journalists were
led by supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Arisitide's ruling Lavalas
family party.

President Aristide has strongly condemned the ongoing acts of violence but
a very tense situation remains in the capital, Delva reported. "... He
asked the population to work with the Press and to support the Press, to
respect the right of journalists to work freely and so on and he called on
all his followers to respect the press freedom but in reality, it's not
quite that," Delva said.

Tensions have been running high since the failed coup attempt on Monday
when armed gunmen attacked the National Palace but were repelled by
security forces.

A group of 30 armed men attacked the palace in downtown Port-au-Prince
before dawn on Monday.

Many of the gunmen, who according to police wore military uniforms similar
to those of the disbanded Haitian army, escaped after killing two police
officers at the scene.

Nine people were killed in the palace assault which resulted in mob
violence in the streets of the capital and other cities, officials said.

Police said one gunman died in a shootout with security forces who fought
off the attackers.

Press reports said that a former police officer accused of planning the
assault, Guy Philippe, was detained in Ecuador by the authorities on
Wednesday.


© 2002 St Vincent and Grenadines Herald

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