20608: Esser: Prisoners at sea could be in serious trouble

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haïtienne de Presse

Citizens held prisoners at sea on a boat from the Haitian coast guard
could be in serious trouble 

Port-au-Prince, March 18, 2004 -(AHP)- Many members of the political
organization Fanmi Lavalas and police officers who were arrested on
Friday, March 13 at  Port-au-Prince are held prisoners at sea on a
boat from the Haitian coast guard at Bizoton (South of the capital). 

Among others, there are division commissioner Jacques Anthony
Nazaire, who was one of the managers of security for President
Aristide; SMCRS manager, Paul Keller, police officer Pétion Ospide
and a former pro-mayor of Port-au-Prince, Harold Sevère. 

One of these prisoners, Anthony Nazaire, who suffers from a handicap
to an arm after the December 17, 2001 attack on the national palace
left him with serious injuries, is allegedly in serious trouble, the
AHP learned.

Suffering from sea sickness, he apparently keeps vomiting and, thus,
is unable to eat anything.

The police are using security matters to justify keeping the 3 men held
at sea.

Anthony Nazaire and the 2 other prisoners are accused of dealing with
criminals. According to sources close to the police, some of them
have been arrested for 'precaution reasons' to prevent alleged
criminals from fleeing the country.

In Harold Sévere's case, Judge Brédy fabien allegedly had him
arrested for his presumed involvement in the murder of Radio
Haitien's manager. However, that judge's authority in this matter is
in doubt, for Judge Napela Saintil, who was first in charge of the
case, has not been told about the appointment of the new judge.

It is not known whether Louis Charles and Emée Luckson - a USGPN
agent - who were arrested on the same day are still held prisoners at
Petion-ville's police station.
.