17784: Esser: Haiti Killings can and must be stopped (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com


Amnesty International

Haiti: Killings can and must be stopped

press release, 08/01/2004

Only strong and unified action can break the cycle of political violence
currently gripping Haiti, said Amnesty International as two people died
and 30
others were injured in Port-au-Prince yesterday during confrontations
between
opposition party demonstrators, government supporters trying to block
their
march and police.

"Political leaders must immediately address their supporters and demand
they
stop committing abuses," Amnesty International said. "In addition,
police must
fulfil their duty to respect and protect the right to peaceful protest."

According to reports, the dead included a supporter of Haitian
president Jean
Bertrand Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party who was shot and killed in an
exchange
of gunfire with the police, and Maxime Desulmant, an opposition
demonstrator who
was killed by gunfire from Aristide supporters.

Only one week on from the 200th anniversary of Haiti as a sovereign
state, last
year's growing political violence continues. In the run-up to the 1
January
Bicentennial, Amnesty International had issued a plan of action calling
on the
authorities to guarantee that no human rights violations would be
tolerated
during the celebrations and urging political parties to control their
supporters.

Opposition leaders have called for several days of strikes in the wake
of
yesterday's demonstration, during which journalists and radio stations
were also
said to have come under attack.

"Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the nearly incessant
clashes
between pro-and anti-government activists in Haiti, in which several
people have
lost their lives already this year. We are fearful of the human rights
impact of
this spiral of violence, and ask the authorities, with the cooperation
of
political parties, to immediately bring those responsible to justice,"
the
organization concluded.

http://news.amnesty.org/mav/index/ENGAMR360012004