12649: Amnesty Int'l: Human rights and rule of law must be upheld in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Antoine Blanc <amprblanc@yahoo.fr>


* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

7 August 2002
AMR 36/011/2002


The political violence and instability which have followed the
prison escape of political activist Amio Métayer are seriously
undermining the rule of law and may jeopardise human rights in
the Haitian town of Gonaïves, Amnesty International said today.

      On Saturday 3 August, Amio Métayer escaped from prison
along with an estimated 150 other inmates. During the wave of
violence that surrounded the escape, one person was killed, and
many buildings were burned or destroyed. Gonaïves has witnessed
an alarming lack of control since the violence erupted on Friday.

      "Armed gangs supporting political activists or locally
elected officials have been allowed to consolidate their presence
and now constitute a serious challenge to the rule of law in the
country," Amnesty International warned, stressing that in the
past such armed gangs have clearly been responsible for human
rights abuses.

      "In the face of this critical situation, it is the duty
of the Haitian authorities to protect the lives and physical
integrity of all citizens,  restore public order and the rule of
law, and make every effort to protect the institutions of the
state, including the justice system," the organization said.

       Amnesty International also urges the Haitian authorities
to take immediate action to bring to justice those responsible
both for orchestrating and carrying out the recent acts of
violence in Gonaïves, to take all measures necessary and possible
to ensure that security can be restored to the city -- in full
respect of international standards regulating the use of force
and firearms by law enforcement officials --  and to ensure that
the judicial system can function effectively.

Background
According to reports, the recent wave of violence in Gonaïves has
been orchestrated and carried out by armed supporters loyal to
Amio Métayer -- an armed group that calls itself the "Cannibal
Army". On Friday 1 August , members of popular organizations
began protesting and demanding Amio Métayer's release. They then
reportedly set up burning barricades and attacked the mayor's
offices, set fire to a lorry belonging to the municipality, and
took over the Court of Appeal's office where they burnt many
documents. On Saturday 2 August heavily-armed gunmen drove a
tractor through the wall of the prison in Gonaïves, freeing
approximately 150 prisoners. Further to this, the town courthouse
and city hall were set on fire. The local press reported that on
Monday, thousands of protesters, some armed, hurled stones at
outnumbered Haitian police -- who were forced to retreat --
setting up barricades of burning tyres, and shouting slogans
calling for the arrest of President Aristide. Many local
residents are said to have left the area.

      Local reports claim that whilst police have been present
throughout the violence, they have been outnumbered on several
occasions, and have not approached the stronghold that Métayer
has reportedly set up for himself and his gang in the slum area
of Raboteau, in Gonaïves.

      Métayer, a former supporter of the leading Fanmi Lavalas
party, is claiming that he has been betrayed by President
Aristide, and is calling for Aristide to be arrested, his
administration to be replaced by an interim government and for
new elections to be held. Amio Métayer was arrested on 2 July
2002 in connection with alleged acts of violence committed in the
wake of last December's attack by unidentified gunmen on the
National Palace. His arrest followed the publication of a report
on the 17 December attack and its aftermath by an investigative
team of the Organization of American States. The report had urged
that all those implicated in the violence of 17 December be
prosecuted without delay. Métayer had originally been held in
Port-au-Prince but was  transferred back to Gonaïves following
several violent demonstrations by his supporters.





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