26296: Hyppolite Pierre Re: La Scierie indictment (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Hyppolite Pierre <hpierre@irsp.org>

It's is known now for sure: the judge in the "La Scierie"-first-genocide 
(according to RNDDH)-then-massacre story, after having reportedly (according to 
media reports) decided that there was no case, has now decided to indict former 
government officials including Privert (jailed) and Neptune (also jailed). 
This is a very interesting case, for if the lawyers for these and many former 
government officials are able to do their job well, they will be able to expose 
a number of weaknesses in our judicial system in Haiti. Those weaknesses 
include (but are not limited to):
- the overwhelming power of a right-wing sponsored special interest group, 
self-proclaimed human rights organization in Haiti, the RNDDH;
- the overwhelming power and influence of a small group of Haitian 
traditionalists on the executive branch of government;
- the weakness of our judicial system; and
- the continuing misuse of power in Haiti by Haitian traditionalists of the 
upper class. 
Those who are on the side of justice in Haiti should not, cannot stay on the 
sideline, whatever their political opinion. At the same time, lawyers for the 
victimized members of the former regime should be cautious and remain 
level-headed in this process. They should not think or consider this case as a 
slam dunk, for those in power and their chimeric acolytes in wealthy capitals 
around the globe will also use their public relations power and experience to 
do injustice once more in Haiti. I would even advise the former officals' 
lawyers the following: 
- they need to make sure that the media, national and international, have 
access to the courtroom proceeding, with recording camera if possible;
- they should use their rights during the procedure before trial to enforce 
laws regarding pretrial "Discovery" skillfully, properly, honestly, 
intelligently, and calmly;
- they need to screen all potential jurors in this case, and make sure that the 
actual jurors are protected against potential backlash (i.e. murder) if the 
verdict rendered is not the one that fake human rights organization in Haiti 
wants to see given.
- they need to expose the political connections of this case and if possible, 
call relevant and interested members of RNDDH to the witness stand, so the 
whole world can see how a so-called human rights organization in a fourth-world 
country can use its power and influence to cause injustice. 
After all, RNDDH (NCHR/Haiti before then) was the organization that theorized 
"La Scierie genocide", and then called it "massacre". They are (as we say in 
French), partie prenante in this case. They need to be on the witness stand as 
well to at least explain how and where dogs could have eaten so many corpses 
during this so-called "genocide". 
I am very interested in this case, very much so and for many reasons. Perhaps 
the most important reason is the fact that should justice be rendered in this 
case, it might become a precedent for all future governments (from the right 
and the left) to learn not to try to use the judicial process for political 
gain. 
I am sure that many may not see it that way. It is however crucial for the 
world at large to remain focus on what happened in la Scierie. It is perhaps 
the only way that the right and the left of Haitian politics will get to learn 
that justice does not mean revenge. 
Best regards,
Hyppolite Pierre