15039: Benodin: SOS The Youth Group of Cap Haitien: Initiative Citoyenne (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

The Youth Group of Cap Haitien: Initiative Citoyenne
initiativecitoyenne@yahoo.fr
March 5th, 03

The situation is intolerable in the second largest city of Haiti, since the
arrival of the famous Police superintendent (Commissioner) Carlo Lochard.

On Sunday afternoon, they proceeded to arrest and illegally incarcerate
Pastor Jackson Noel, representing the Northern branch of the MOCHENAH party.
The Pastor was severely beaten. Were also arrested: his wife, his sister and
other individuals present in his place of residence under the accusation of
illegal possession of firearms. He is since held in captivity and incognito.

The same Sunday, Starly Pérard was arrested, accused of attempting to set
afire the MSPP / Northeast’s vehicle during the “Initiative Citoyenne’s”
demonstration on February 8 2003. In fact they blame Starly for his zeal in
the mobilization against the lavalas ruling party in the North. Sunday
night, he was transported to Rival, a village located in approximately 3
kilometers from Cap-Haitian where they stuck a
pistols against the eardrum to force him to indicate the hiding place of his
friends.

We are seeking help and solidarity from the world, in order to prevent the
lavalas authorities from killing
his political opponents.

Last week a human rights mission conducted by Gesner Jean Phillipe from
Oecumenical Center for human
rights, visited Cap-Haitian; organizations like Haiti Solidarite
Internationale, Justice and Peace, and
Moufhed were part of this mission. They visited about 50 people that are
hiding from the lavalas thugs.

Frandley Denis Julien
Coordinator
Citizen Initiative
initiativecitoyenne@yahoo.fr
antilleanculture@yahoo.fr
cell: (509)4311003