26849: Hermantin(news)Protest March Jailing Decried supporters of Rev. Gerard Jean-Just (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Posted on Sun, Dec. 11, 2005


PROTEST MARCH
JAILING DECRIED
SUPPORTERS OF REV. GERARD JEAN-JUSTE CONVERGED SATURDAY ON DOWNTOWN MIAMI TO 
CALL FOR HIS RELEASE
BY DAVID OVALLE
dovalle@herald.com

Armed with hand-scrawled signs and Haitian flags, a spirited crowd of at least 
1,000 people marched the streets of downtown Miami on Saturday to protest the 
jailing in Haiti of Rev. Gérard Jean-Juste.

Activists called for the release of the popular priest, who they say has been 
jailed since July for political reasons by the U.S.-backed government of 
interim Prime Minister Gérard Latortue.

''He's in jail and he's never even seen a judge,'' cried Farah Juste, one of 
the rally's organizers. She is not related to the priest.

``They don't have anything against him.''

The animated gathering is one of the strongest shows of support since Haitian 
and human rights activists began a letter and e-mail writing campaign to free 
Jean-Juste after his arrest.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, this week announced 40 members of 
the Congressional Black Caucus have signed another letter urging President Bush 
to secure Jean-Juste's release.

''The imprisonment of Jean-Juste and others casts a dark shadow on Haiti's 
government and will continue to burden the country's journey toward true 
democracy,'' he said in a statement.

Saturday's march was seen by many as a stepping up by his supporters of their 
efforts to pressure the Haitian government into releasing Jean-Juste.

By 1 p.m., protesters had gathered at the Torch of Friendship monument next to 
Bayside Marketplace. Small jitney buses lined Biscayne Boulevard to drop off 
the rally goers. Many wore powder blue T-shirts with the words ''Free Father 
Gérard Jean-Juste.'' Others held signs up for the honking, passing cars.

''We want to cheer and make ourselves loud and clear: free Father Jean-Juste 
now!'' organizer Jack Lieberman said, exhorting the crowd.

Jean-Juste, a supporter of ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has 
been called a ''prisoner of conscience'' by Amnesty International, a 
designation normally reserved for victims of the worst abuses. He was first 
arrested in October 2004 in Port-au-Prince for allegedly using his church to 
plot the fall of the interim government. After 48 days, he was freed.

Jean-Juste was then arrested in July, in part for alleged complicity in the 
murder of a prominent Haitian journalist. Haitian government officials maintain 
Jean-Juste is being held legally as investigators probe the charges against 
him.

His supporters, who tried unsuccessfully to register him in Haiti's 
presidential race, say the government is worried he may play the role of a 
spoiler. The election is scheduled for January.

''They think by keeping him in jail, that will keep people from organizing for 
the election,'' said Jean Yves Point-du-Jour, a transportation engineer who 
flew in from Washington D.C. for Saturday's rally.

Said North Miami Beach City Councilman Phillipe Derose: ``He's a great leader. 
We've never had a leader like Jean-Juste.''

The march was scheduled for Saturday because it was International Human Rights 
Day, a day designated by the United Nations to highlight human rights abuses 
around the world.

Farah Juste said supporters would protest every Saturday at the Friendship 
Torch until the priest is released.

Lieberman said similar marches would be included in Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
parades in Liberty City and Fort Lauderdale in January.