22110: Essert: Lavalas activists call for the release of So An, and threaten to take to the streets (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haïtienne de Presse AHP

May 26, 2004

Lavalas activists from the populist district of Bel-Air call for the
release of their colleague, Annette Auguste, and threaten to take to
the streets


Port-au-prince, May 26, 2004 - (AHP)- The Lavalas activists from the
populist Bel-Air neighborhood put pressure on the interim authorities
to release Lavalas activist Annette Auguste, who was arrested close
to three weeks ago by soldiers from the multinational force.

They denounced the illegal nature of the arrest, which they said was
made in the middle of the night and without a warrant.

According to the Bel-Air activists, the arrest and detention of Sò
Anne is part of a campaign of persecution orchestrated by the
Latortue government against party supporters.

They said that the Latortue regime is off hunting down Fanmi Lavalas
supporters while the supporters of the Anti-Aristide ex-opposition
who had killed police officers and members of the public as well as
setting fire to police stations and other public offices, are walking
the streets with impunity.

The Bel-Air activists, who had organized the demonstration of May 18,
also are calling for the arrest of thousands of criminals who are on
the loose, after having escaped from prison before and after February
29 with the assistance, said the activists, of ex-rebels and
supporters of the ex-opposition.

The activists said they might organize a demonstration in the coming
days if the Latortue government obstinately persists in detaining
activist Annette Auguste and other members and supporters of Fanmi
Lavalas who have been arrested and detained illegally.
.