21080: Esser: Acts of brutality against the Radio Solidarite corespondent in Jacmel (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haïtienne de Presse

March 31, 2004

The AJH Secretary General speaks out against the acts of brutality
committed against the Radio Solidarité corespondent in Jacmel
 

Port-au-Prince, March 31, 2004 -(AHP)- Lyonel Lazarre, the
correspondent for Radio Solidarité in Jacmel, was abducted last
weekend in Belle-Anse and later released by a group of former Haitian
soldiers assisted by a police inspector named Delain Brunet. 

These individuals criticized Lyonel Lazarre for having broadcast
information relating to abuses they are alleged to have been involved
in around Belle-Anse. 

The reports were broadcast over the airwaves of a radio station in
Jacmel for which Mr. Lazarre also works, as Radio Solidarité has
temporarily suspended its news bulletins.

The kidnappers of Lyonel Lazarre, after having beaten him, forced him
to indicate the location of the home of another colleague working for
Radio Ginen, Jacky Jean Baptiste, whom they accuse of being close to
the deposed president,  Jean Bertrand Aristide.

The Secretary General of the AJH (Association of Haitian
Journalists), Guyler C. Delva, expressed profound concern at "these
unacceptable and intolerable acts".

In an interview with AHP, Guy Delva called on the office of the
police inspector general to take steps against the authors of these
reprehensible acts that he said are placing freedom of the  press in
Haiti in grave danger.

Mr. Delva also called on the Latortue government to send clear
signals proving its determination to break with these practices,
which constitute a very serious assault on freedom of the press.

Guy Delva said he is particularly concerned about the freedom of
journalists due to the presence on the streets of armed individuals
accused of involvement in common law crimes and other violations.

These armed men, who are very active in the field, are weakening
freedom of the press", declared Mr. Delva, who asked journalists to
demonstrate prudence in the exercise of their profession.

He went on to deplore that some journalists have transformed
themselves into informants for the police, pointing out certain
individuals.

"We understand that journalists can criticize what deserves to be
criticized, but they should not confuse their role with that of a
police informant", warned Guy Delva.
.