25476: Blanchet: Fw: IACHR deplores escalating violence in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

From: <Tttnhm@aol.com>


Washington, D.C. June 23, 2005- The Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights
(IACHR) wishes to express its grave concern over the escalating violence in
the Republic of Haiti in recent months, which continues to claim lives on a
daily basis and has nearly paralyzed the regular activities of Haitians,
particularly those living in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The Commission has been informed of numerous serious incidents of violence,
many of which have been perpetrated in the context of confrontations between
illegal armed gangs and members of the Haitian National Police and which
have
claimed the lives of numerous civilians caught in the cross-fire. In recent
months, the Haitian capital has also been gripped by a wave of violent
incidents,
and in particular, kidnappings, attacks on members of the transitional
government, members of the business community, members of the Haitian
National
Police, and many others. The multiple kidnappings perpetrated in a day, the
generalized nature of these incidents, and the new phenomenon of targeting
children
for abduction are all signs of how this wave of violence has taken on a new
degree of severity.

The Commission condemns these acts of violence. While the Commission notes
that some efforts are being made to assume greater control over the
situation,
such as the creation of a special unit within the HNP to investigate
kidnappings and the launching of a crime hotline by the UN Stabilization
Forceâs
civilian police component, the Commission considers that the current state
of
insecurity must be confronted more decisively by the government, in
collaboration
with the international community. As the Commission has previously observed,
this
ultimately requires the rigorous implementation of a comprehensive security
and disarmament plan and urgent measures to enhance the capacity of the
Haitian
National Police. Without immediate and decisive measures to contain the
violence, the Commission is concerned that the fall elections so vital to
the
countryâs stability and progress will be jeopardized. In this regard, the
Commission is encouraged by the recent decision taken by the U.N. Security
Council in
its Resolution 1608 (2005) to increase the number of military troops and
civilian police.

The Commission also remains concerned about reports of arbitrary arrests and
detentions as well as the rate of prolonged pre-trial detention in the
country. In this connection, the Commission reiterates its concern over the
prolonged
delay by the Haitian justice system to conduct a timely investigation into
the case of Mr. Yvon Neptune, as well as to determine the legality of his
arrest
and detention. The Commission emphasizes the prohibition against arbitrary
arrests and detentions enshrined in Article 7 of the American Convention,
and
reiterates the Stateâs obligation to ensure that its efforts to investigate
and
prosecute crimes are undertaken through demonstrably fair and effective
procedures that conform to international standards of due process.

***
At 7pm on Sunday 26 June 2005, two films about Haiti will be screened at
London's Ritzy cinema in Brixton. The main feature is "When I am Misery, I
Sing",
a documentary covering the ten weeks surrounding President Aristide's 29
February 2004, departure. The special screening is a benefit for the Haiti
Support
Group.
Ritzy Cinema Box Office: 020 7733 2229 - book tickets now to avoid
disappointment.


_____________________________________________________

Forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the
Haitian people's struggle for human rights, participatory democracy and
equitable
development - since 1992.

Web site: www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org