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[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haïtienne de Presse AHP

May 11, 2004

The Lavalas activist Annette Auguste was not  brought before a judge
this Tuesday: Judge Brédy Fabien was absent from the court house and
is accused of  playing along with the power games of  Latortue

Port-au-Prince, May 11, 2004 -(AHP)- Fanmi Lavalas activist  Annette
Auguste (Sò Anne) was not brought before a judge this Tuesday at the
Court of Peace for the Eastern Section  due to the absence of the
judge in charge of the case, Brédy Fabien.

Madame Auguste was arrested by US members of the multinational force
at her home during the night on Sunday on the basis of an accusation
that she had made threats against the multinational force, according
to its public affairs officer, Lt. Col. Dave Lapan. However the
National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) claims she was arrested
because of an allegation that she was involved in the violent
incidents of December 5, 2003, at the School of Social Sciences.

A group of women who came to provide support to Sò Anne denounced the
behavior of Judge Brédy Fabien whom they accused of seeking to
prolong the detention of Ms.Auguste.

The women chanted slogans against the interim authorities whom they
accused of violating human rights and of resorting to extremely vile
maneuvers to justify their campaigns of persecution against Lavalas.

The women also called on the interim government and its supporters to
remember that they do not enjoy any constitutional legitimacy.

The lawyer representing Sò Anne, Mr. Patrick Laurent, also denounced
Judge Brédy Fabien, who, he said, is an instrument at the service of
the Latortue government.

Judge Fabien is in the process of playing politics with this case",
snapped Mr. Laurent, who also said he expects that the Haitian
justice system will take a long time to free itself from the grip of
political power.

In the eyes of Mr. Laurent, the procedure used by the U.S. military
to carry out the arrest of Annette Auguste is no different from State
delinquency and thuggish behavior.

Members of Sò Anne's family said that grenades were utilized along
with extensive destruction of property during the military operation.

The director of the National Human Rights and Peace Network, Raymond
St Clair , condemned the behavior of Judge Brédy Fabien, who is
charging ahead with the execution of the four principal wishes of the
Latortue government.

Mr. Raymond said he had visited a number of the country's detention
facilities  and had found several cases of detention of Fanmi Lavalas
supporters who were victims of the political persecution launched
against that sector.

He also denounced the illegal detention of senior officials and
supporters of Fanmi Lavalas, who don't event have a right to receive
visits by members of their families. He cited as examples the cases
of the former Interior Minister,  Jocelerme Privert and of Harold
Sévère and Anthony Nazaire.
.