28205: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-Prisoners (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By STEVENSON JACOBS

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Mar 31 (AP) -- The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti on
Friday condemned the jailing of thousands of people who have not been
convicted of a crime, saying the practice violated prisoners' human rights.
   Only 10 percent of some 4,000 prisoners have been convicted, U.N.
spokeswoman Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry said. The impoverished country's
largest prison, the national penitentiary, has grown so overcrowded that it
can no longer admit inmates.
   In a statement, the peacekeeping mission said the situation "is contrary
to the universal principles of human rights and the guarantees of personal
freedoms preached by Haiti's Constitution and laws."
   The U.N. mission called on Haitian authorities to immediately appoint a
commission to review each of the prisoners' cases.
   Officials at Haiti's Justice Ministry did not immediately return calls
seeking comment.
   U.N. officials did not provide details about the prisoners' legal
status, but critics of the Haitian government have said they believe the
vast majority have not been charged with a crime, let alone convicted.
   Observers say Haitian courts are underfunded, overwhelmed by thousands
of backlogged cases and have been repeatedly disrupted by political
turmoil, a constant in Haiti's history.
   Haiti's U.S.-backed interim government, appointed after a February 2004
revolt toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has pledged to reform the
judiciary but has been hampered by a lack of personnel and equipment.
   President-elect Rene Preval, whose strong backing among Haiti's poor
propelled him to victory in Feb. 7 elections, will be sworn in May 14.
   Some inmates have been held for years without seeing a judge, and most
have served more time than they would have if convicted, according to local
rights groups.
   "They've essentially been found guilty before even going to court," said
Jocelyn McCalla, executive director of the National Coalition for Haitian
Rights in New York.
   McCalla blamed the failure to address the cases on a lack of political
will and a shortage of legal professionals.
   Critics have alleged that some of the detentions are politically
motivated.
   Among the more prominent inmates is Yvon Neptune, prime minister under
Aristide. Neptune has been jailed since July 2004 on accusations that he
masterminded the killings of political opponents before the revolt. Neptune
denies the charges, and no trial date has been set.