16932: Lemieux: Amnesty International: Haiti: Human rights abuses on the rise (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>


AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE


AI Index: AMR 36/009/2003
News Service No: 231
8 October 2003


Haiti: Human rights abuses on the rise
Increased political violence is causing a rise in human
rights abuses in Haiti, Amnesty International said today as
it launched a new report: "Haiti: Abuse of human rights:
political violence as the 200th anniversary of independence
approaches."

"Killings, violent attacks and threats -- committed by
political partisans and armed, politically-motivated groups
-- are of growing concern, as are violations committed by
security forces in responding to political violence,"
Amnesty International said. "In addition, attacks on
freedom of expression continue."

In one ongoing situation of concern to Amnesty
International, the coastal city of Gonaives has been racked
by days of violent demonstrations following the 21
September 2003 killing of former activist Amiot Métayer.
Many of his supporters, accusing the government of
responsibility for his death, clashed repeatedly with
police officers. According to reports, at least one
resident was killed and many more were wounded, while a
police station and two other public buildings were burnt
down.

On 2 October, in a manoeuvre which they claimed was
intended to restore order, police supported by Coast Guard
units and a helicopter clashed with armed residents in an
attempted sweep through the Raboteau area of the city. At
least three people were reported to have been killed and
others injured during this incident. Ironically, Raboteau
was the scene of a notorious 1994 coup-era massacre carried
out by army and paramilitary forces, following a failed
attempt to apprehend Amiot Métayer.

"The lessons of the past must be heeded. The right to life
and physical integrity must be guaranteed, even in states
of emergency or public disorder," Amnesty International
said while reminding the Haitian authorities of their
responsibilities under international law.

"Protection of human rights confronts one of its greatest
challenges in the face of political violence," Amnesty
International stressed. "In this context, special vigilance
is required to ensure that rights are fully respected; at
the very least, abuses committed by one side should not be
invoked as justification for violations by the other."

The organisation repeated its call for a resolute and
public commitment to respect human rights at the highest
political levels, as well as prompt and effective
investigations and sanctions when violations or abuses are
committed.

For a full Copy of the report: "Haiti: Abuse of human
rights: political violence as the 200th anniversary of
independence approaches," please see:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/haiti/document.do?id=061B8B6B2F3D706480256DB10047B6F6.

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