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29282: Haiti Fear for safety-Death threats - Amnesty International (fwd)
From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>
Haiti: Fear for safety/Death threats - Amnesty International
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PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 36/013/2006
28 September 2006
UA 259/06 Fear for safety/Death threats
HAITI Evel Fanfan (m), human rights lawyer and President of the Association of
University Graduates Motivated for a Haiti with Rights (Association des
Universitaires Motivés pour un Haïti de Droit - AUMOHD)
His wife and children
Colin Reginal (m), Deputy Executive Secretary of AUMOHD
Other members of AUMOHD
Members of the Grand Ravine Community Council for Human Rights (Conseil
Communautaire de Droits Humains de Grand Ravine -CCDH-GR)
Killed: Bruner Esterne (m) Coordinator of the CCDH-G
Evel Fanfan, a lawyer and president of a human rights organization, has
received death threats. This follows the murder of a fellow human rights
activist, who witnessed a massacre allegedly perpetrated by an armed group with
the help of police officers. Amnesty International is gravely concerned for his
safety and that of his family. Members of his organization as well as residents
of the local community may also be in serious danger.
Bruner Esterne, the coordinator of the Grand Ravine Community Council for Human
Rights (Conseil
Communautaire de Droits Humains de Grand Ravine - CCDH-GR) was shot dead by
three unknown
individuals on 21 September. A few hours later, Evel Fanfan, human rights
lawyer and President of the Association of University Graduates Motivated for a
Haiti with Rights (Association des Universitaires Motivés pour un Haïti de
Droit - AUMOHD), an umbrella group of which CCDH-GR is a part, received a
threatening telephone call from a man who identified himself as "Jeanjean". He
asked Evel Fanfan if he had heard about Bruner Esterne's murder and warned him
that people who spoke out too much would "pay for it."
Bruner Esterne's murder may be linked to the fact that he was an eyewitness to
killings allegedly perpetrated by armed gang members and reportedly with the
help of rogue police officers on 20 August 2005. More than 20 people were
killed in the attack, which took place at a football match in Martissant, a
poor neighbourhood in the south of the capital Port-au-Prince. The following
day dozens of houses in the neighbouring community of Grand Ravine were burned
down, including the home of Bruner Esterne. On 6 July this year 21 people were
killed in a similar attack in Grand Ravine. Bruner Esterne was killed as he
returned from AUMOHD's office, where he had attended a meeting to discuss these
killings.
Evel Fanfan and his wife, who is also a member of AUMOHD, have two young
children aged 7 and 5. Both Evel Fanfan and his wife had worked closely with
Bruner Esterne in the fight for justice for members of their community who were
murdered in the two attacks and whose houses have been burned down. A few days
after Bruner Esterne's murder, Evel Fanfan gave an interview on national radio
in which he condemned his killing. Colin Reginal, the Deputy Executive
Secretary of AUMOHD, who worked closely with Bruner Esterne, also greatly fears
for his safety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On 6 July this year 21 people, including women and children, were killed in the
Grand Ravine neighbourhood in an attack carried out by an armed gang known as
the "Little Machete Army" (Lame Timanchèt). On 20 August 2005 the same gang
accompanied by a group of rogue police officers interrupted a football match in
the neighbouring community of Martissant, apparently looking for "bandits".
They killed more than 20 and injured several others. On both occasions houses
of community members were subsequently burned down. The CCDH-GR was set up with
the help of survivors and families of victims of the 20 August massacre.
Gun violence is widespread in Haiti where killings by illegal armed groups or
gangs occur almost on a daily basis. Amnesty International has called on the
Haitian authorities to implement a broad disarmament programme in order to help
curb the violence.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in
French, English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of Evel Fanfan, Colin Reginal, and their
families, as well as members of AUMOHD and the Grand Ravine community mentioned
above;
- urging the authorities to provide them and their families with adequate
protection and to guarantee their safety according to their wishes;
- calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial
investigation into the death threats against Evel Fanfan, to make the results
public and bring those responsible to justice;
- calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial
investigation into the murder of Bruner Esterne, to make the results public and
bring those responsible to justice.
- calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial
investigation into the killings and arson attacks of 20-21 August 2005 and 6
July 2006 in Martissant and Grand Ravine to make the results public and bring
those responsible to justice;
- reminding the authorities that the UN Declaration on the Rights and
Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect
Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties recognizes the
legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry
out their activities without any fear of reprisals.
APPEALS TO:
President
Monsieur René García Préval
Président de la République dHaïti,
Palais National, Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince, HAITI (W.I)
Fax: + 509 228 2396
Salutation: Monsieur le Président/Dear President
Prime Minister
Monsieur Jacques Édouard Alexis
Ministère de l'Intérieure, Villa dAccueil, Delmas 60, Musseau, Port-au-Prince,
HAITI (W.I.)
Fax: + 509 249 5561
Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Ministre/ Dear Prime Minister
General Director of the Haiti National Police
Mario Andresol
Directeur Général de la Police Nationale d'Haïti
Grand Quartier Générale la Police, 12 rue Oscar Pacot, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
(W.I.)
Fax: + 509 245 7374
Salutation: Monsieur le Directeur Général/Dear Mr. Andresol
Minister of Justice
Monsieur René Magloire
Ministre de la Justice, 19 Avenue Charles Sumner, Port-au-Prince, HAITI (W.I.)
Fax: + 509 245 0474
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre/Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
UN Special Representative
Mr Edmont Mulet
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
385, Ave. John Brown, Bourdon, B.P. 557, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (W.I.)
Fax: + 509 244 3512
Salutation: Dear Special Representative Mulet
Human rights organization
Association des Universitaires Motivés pour un Haïti de Droit
(AUMOHD - Association of University Graduates Motivated for a Haiti with
Rights)
181, Autoroute de Delmas, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
and to diplomatic representatives of Haiti accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or
your section office, if sending appeals after 9 November 2006.
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