27085: Arthur (comment)Re: 27082: Haiti, Mexico most perilous for media (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Charles Arthur writes:

How very strange to read in the Reporters Without Borders summary of 2005 that
just 2 journalists were killed in Haiti. I haven't read the full report, but
apparently Joe Mozingo of the Miami Herald has, because in his piece he states
that the two killed - according to Reporters Without Borders - were radio
reporter Laraque Robenson, 24, (who) was killed during a gunfight in March,
when U.N. peacekeepers moved to dislodge a gang of former soldiers from a
police station in Petit Goave, and Jacques Roche, a columnist and editor at Le
Matin, (who) was kidnapped on July 10 and found dead four days later. What then
of Abdias Jean, the journalist allegedly shot dead by police in Port-au-Prince
in January 2005? See two reports below:

1) INSI
January 2005 - Haiti - Abdias Jean
Haitian police killed radio WKAT journalist Abdias Jean and
several youngsters during a raid in a slum stronghold of support for
the country's ousted president, according to a Reuters report
quoting witnesses and a human rights group. Police acknowledged
killing several people during the raid, and described them as
bandits killed in an exchange of gunfire. (...)
One witness, Magalie Jean, said that as she took cover, she heard
Jean screaming, "Don't kill me, I am a journalist. Why should I be
killed like that?" She told Reuters : "Then I heard a series of
gunshots and it was over for him." Jacques Vilbrun, who also said he
witnessed the incident, said police severely beat Jean and
then, "After beating him, they took him a little farther and shot
him dead."
A police spokeswoman, Jessie Coicou, refused to confirm or deny
the allegations and urged families to "file complaints before
relevant courts of justice if they think they have a case." She
added: "The police don't have to defend themselves before the media.
Since I heard there are several witnesses, I hope they will accept
to testify before a judge."

2)IAPA condemns murder of journalist and asks for safeguards for
journalists

Miami (January 21, 2005).- In a letter sent by the Inter American
Press Association (IAPA) to the Prime Minister of Haiti, the
organization condemned the murder of a journalist and asked for a
prompt investigation, as well as safeguards for journalists in that
country, where there have been reports in past days of incidents of
violence against the media.(...)

"According to reports received at our organization, on January 14
radio reporter Abdias Jean was covering a police operation and raid
in the Village de Dieu sector of Port-au-Prince - considered a
stronghold of supporters of the deposed President Jean-Betrand
Aristide. According to the information received, Jean was allegedly
killed in retaliation for having been witness to the execution of
three children in a case that members of the National Police are
also being blamed.

The reporter's murder is a serious attack against press freedom and
the public's right to information, since several people stated that
Jean identified himself as a journalist before being killed.

Therefore, we urge you to take adequate and immediate measures so
that the respective authorities can launch an in-depth investigation
to bring those responsible to justice."


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