14946: Bellegarde-Smith: Haitian journalists threatened (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: P D Bellegarde-Smith <pbs@csd.uwm.edu>


24 February 2003 - OAS Media Guardian Expresses Concern for Journalists in
Haiti (Washington File - US State Dept.)

(Official says threats against Haitian journalists are increasing)

Washington -- Journalists in Haiti are being subjected to increasing threats
and acts of aggression, which create "adverse conditions" for exercising the
right to freedom of expression in that country, says a human rights officer
for the Organization of American States (OAS).

In a February 21 formal statement, Eduardo Bertoni, the OAS' special
rapporteur for freedom of expression, said that threats and "physical
aggressions" are rising considerably in Haiti, and that in order to be safe,
journalists must hide or flee. Bertoni said freedom of expression means not
only being able to express ideas and opinions, but also the ability to do so
without suffering "arbitrary consequences or acts of intimidation."

The official said his office has received information that Michele Montas,
director of a Haitian radio station, continues to receive threats that put
the station's personnel in imminent danger. As aresult, her station planned
to suspend its broadcasts indefinitely. Montas is the widow of journalist
Jean Dominque, who was murdered in 2000. His murder, and the killing of
journalist Brignol Lindor in 2001, have gone unpunished, Bertoni said.
Bertoni also said it was "troubling" that two journalists from another
Haitian radio station were attacked in their homes, and that subsequently,
the station suspended news broadcasts for 24 hours. Still another station,
Radio Maxima, had to go off the air after its facilities were destroyed in
January, Bertoni said.