20864: Esser: IPI appeals to Latortue: protect journalists in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

AHP

March 23, 2004

The IPI (International Press Institute) appeals to the Latortue
government and the national police to protect journalists in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, March 23, 2004 -(AHP)- The IPI (International Press
Institute) appealed Tuesday to the Latortue government and the
national police to protect journalists following a machine-gun attack
in Petit-Goâve on the residence of Elisée Sincère, a correspondent
for Radio Vision 2000 . 

The IPI said that this attack was perpetrated by members of the
Democratic Convergence political coalition.

This incident, which occurred on March 13, is the most recent attack
against the media in the context of the struggle for power in Haiti,
the Vienna-based press freedom organization pointed out.

In February, the Institution recalled, two radio stations, Radio Télé
Konbit and Radio Africa, were destroyed by Anti-Aristide rebels.

With respect to the attack against the home of Elisée Sincère, IPI
Executive Director Johann P. Fritz, appealed to the Haitian
authorities to bring to justice those who are found to be responsible.

Mr. Fritz emphasized that there is a tendency among the political
parties to consider journalists to be their personal property.

.