24283: Robert Benodin (info) HAITI: Journalist stops working, goes into hiding after shooting attack (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

HAITI: Journalist stops working, goes into hiding after shooting attack

Reporters Without Borders voiced alarm today about the climate of violence
in Haiti in which journalist Raoul Saint-Louis, a co-presenter on the
privately-owned radio station Megastar, announced on 8 February that he has
had to go into hiding, change his residence and stop working as a result of
a shooting attack four
days before.

"The consequences of the attack on Saint-Louis have been disastrous and
constitute a serious press freedom violation," the organization said. "The
attack and the death threats he received by telephone have made him decide
to stop practicing his profession because he fears for his life and the
lives of his loved-ones. He has moved, he is wearing a different style of
clothes and he is hiding when he goes out."

Pointing out that this was the third attack against a journalist since the
start of the year, Reporters Without Borders called on the authorities "to
quickly do everything possible to put an end to this situation of danger for
journalists, who must be able to work in complete safety."

In the attack on Saint-Louis on the evening of 4 February, several shots
were fired as he was outside the radio station with his wife and several
colleagues. One of the shots went right through his hand, causing a injury
that required hospitalization.

As it was dark, Saint-Louis was unable to see who fired the shots. He said
he had received death threats by phone during the preceding month after he
accused the government on the air of not doing enough to combat corruption.

Régis Bourgeat
Despacho Américas / Americas desk
Reporters sans frontières
5, rue Geoffroy-Marie
75009 Paris - France
tél. : +33 (0) 1 44 83 84 68 fax : +33 (0) 1 45 23 11 51 e-mail :
ameriques@rsf.org / americas@rsf.org