20659: (Arthur) IPI Worried by Attack on Haitian Journalist (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

PRESS RELEASE

Vienna, 22 March 2004

IPI Worried by Attack on Haitian Journalist

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media
executives and leading journalists, calls on the Haitian National Police to
protect journalists after gunmen fired on the residence of Radio Vision 2000
journalist Elysée Sincère.

The 13 March attack on Sincère's residence in Petit-Gôave occurred after the
journalist's comments about the absence of policemen in the town. It is
believed the attack was carried out by members of political parties forming the
Democratic Convergence coalition, who are sensitive to issues concerning law and
order.

Significantly, the incident is only the most recent in a number of attacks on
the media as groups within Haiti struggle for power. In late February, two
radio stations in Haiti's second-largest city, Cap-Haïtien, Radio Africa and
Radio Télé Kombit, were destroyed by anti-Aristide rebels.

Speaking of the shooting at Sincère's residence, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz
called on the authorities to bring the attackers to justice. "These are
dangerous times for the media in Haiti. The media must be allowed to practice their
profession free of intimidation and harassment and those presently in power
must act to ensure that this happens. If media are not allowed to do this, then
an important independent voice in Haiti will be lost," Fritz said.

"There is a strong tendency in Haiti for political parties or groups to view
elements of the media as their own personal property. Such groups need to
accept that this is not so and the media also needs to work harder at altering
this perception," Fritz added.

International Press Institute (IPI)
Spiegelgasse 2/29
A-1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel:  + 431-512 90 11
Fax: + 431-512 90 14
E-mail: ipi@freemedia.at
http://www.freemedia.at

IPI, the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists,
is dedicated to the furtherance and safeguarding of press freedom, the
protection of freedom of opinion and expression, the promotion of the free flow of
news and information, and the improvement of the practices of journalism.