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21468: Ayiti Libere: amnesty international (fwd)
From: Ayiti Libere <ayitilibere@yahoo.com>
Amnesty International
PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 36/033/2004
UA 149/04Death threats/Harassment 20 April
2004
HAITI: Marie Nadia Charles (f), Executive Director
Renan Hédouville (m),
Secretary-General
Morisseau Jean Rony (m), Lawyer
Other members of the Comité des Avocats pour le
Respect des Libertés Individuelles, Committee of
Lawyers for Individual Respect and Liberties, (CARLI)
Carline Séide (f)
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of
those named above following death threats and acts of
intimidation against them. Members of the Committee of
Lawyers for Individual Respect and Liberties, Comité
des Avocats pour le Respect des Libertés Individuelles
(CARLI) are particularly being targeted in an attempt
to hinder their human rights work.
CARLI has taken up the case of a young woman called
Carline Séide, who was gang raped by seven men in
November 2003. One of the alleged attackers was a
policeman who was later arrested together with another
man. Both, however, escaped from prison during a
jailbreak on 29 February 2004 and since then, men
claiming to be sent by the policeman have gone to
Carline Séide’s home on several occasions and
threatened both her and members of CARLI. Carline
Séide has been warned that she will be made to pay for
implicating the policeman and is currently in hiding.
Members of CARLI have also been threatened directly.
At about 10.00 am, on 24 March, a substitute judge
(juge suppléant) at the Peace Tribunal (tribunal de
paix) in Delmas, Port-au-Prince arrived at CARLI’s
offices, accompanied by several men. He reportedly
threatened to kill the CARLI staff who were there at
the time, in particular Marie Nadia Charles the
Executive Director, and lawyer Morisseau Jean Rony.
According to CARLI, the Judge's threat stems from the
fact he was named on a monthly list of human rights
violators, published in February 2004. The list is
based on information gathered from a Hot Line number
which those who have experienced human rights abuses
are encouraged to call.
CARLI had included the Judge on the list, for his
alleged responsibility in the arbitrary arrests of
five people, including human rights defender Kettelie
Julien on 6 February 2004.
An Amnesty International delegation, which visited
Haiti between 25 March and 8 April 2004, was told by
members of CARLI that they were receiving threatening
phone calls on almost a daily basis and that their
Secretary-General, Renan Hédouville, was specifically
being mentioned.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since the departure of President Aristide at the end
of February, Haiti has continued to be gripped by a
serious civil conflict, with a lack of rule of law and
little respect for human rights. The interim
government has swiftly moved to arrest high-ranking
members of former President Aristide’s Lavalas Family
party and Government suspected of acts of political
violence or corruption. However, it has failed to act
against a number of known perpetrators of grave human
rights violations, some of whom have been the leaders
of the uprising that led to President Aristide demise.
Amnesty International continues to be deeply concerned
for the security of the civilian population. Despite
the presence of the US-led Multinational Interim Force
(MIF), a large number of armed groups continue to be
active throughout the country, including both former
“rebel” forces, groups or persons associated with them
and militias loyal to former President Aristide. Many
of these groups currently control territory and are
acting as “de facto” authorities in the areas they
control. There have been increasing reports of abuses
being committed by them.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as
quickly as possible, in French or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of members of the
Committee of Lawyers for Individual Respect and
Liberties, Comité des Avocats pour le Respect des
Libertés Individuelles (CARLI) and Carline Séide;
- urging the authorities to fully investigate the rape
of Carline Séide, the threats received by her and the
members of CARLI, ensuring that those responsible are
brought to justice;
- urging the authorities to publicly declare their
recognition of the important role of human rights
defenders and to remind all Haitians that efforts to
curb or hinder their work will not be tolerated;
- expressing grave concern that it is increasingly
difficult for CARLI to carry out its legitimate work
on behalf of victims of human rights violations due to
threats and harassment;
- urging the Haitian government to adhere to its
obligations regarding the protection of human rights
defenders, as laid out in the UN Declarations of
Rights and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and
Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally
Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and
the Human Rights Defenders in the Americas resolution
of the Organisation of American States (OAS).
APPEALS TO: Please note that if you have difficulties
in sending faxes, please send by airmail.
Director General of the Haitian National Police
M. Léon Charles
Directeur Général de la Police Nationale d'Haiti,
Grand Quartier Général de la Police
12 rue Oscar Pacot
Port‑au‑Prince, Haïti
Telegram: Directeur Général de la Police
Nationale d'Haïti, Port-au-Prince, Haïti
Fax: +509 245 7374 (if
someone answers, say "La ligne de fax s’il vous
plaît")
Salutation: Monsieur le Directeur
Minister of Justice and Public Security
Monsieur Jean Baptiste Brown
Ministre de la Justice et de la Sécurité Publique
Ministère de la Justice
19 Avenue Charles Sumner
Port‑au‑Prince, Haïti
Telegram: Ministre de la Justice et de
la Sécurité Publique, Port-au-Prince, Haïti
Fax: +509 245 0474 (if someone answers, say
"La ligne de fax s’il vous plaît")
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the
International Secretariat, or your section office, if
sending appeals after 1 June 2004.
__________________________________
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