29410: Haiti Further information on Fear for safety-Death threats - Amnesty Internatio (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Further information on Fear for safety/Death threats - Amnesty 
International
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PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 36/015/2006
17 October 2006

Further Information on UA 259/06 (AMR 36/013/2006, 28 September 2006) 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)
Cenia Joseph (f), his wife, and their two 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)

New name: Montes Plaisimé (m), Public Relations Officer of AUMOHD

Human rights lawyer Evel Fanfan and his family have suffered further 
intimidation and harassment. Amnesty International is seriously concerned that 
their lives continue to be at risk and believes that they are not receiving 
sufficient support and protection from the Haitian National Police. Other 
members of his organization, the Association of University Graduates Motivated 
for a Haiti with Rights (Association des Universitaires Motivés pour un Haïti 
de Droit - AUMOHD) may also be in serious danger.

On 14 October at 10am a brown Jeep-style vehicle with blacked-out windows and 
no license plates was parked outside the AUMOHD office. The windows were wound 
down and four unknown individuals wearing dark glasses could be seen observing 
the AUMOHD office. The AUMOHD staff contacted the Haitian police but reportedly 
no action was taken. The same vehicle had passed slowly by the office on 
several occasions on 7 October just before midday.

Evel Fanfan's family have also been subjected to intimidation. On 28 September 
an unknown individual went to his seven-year-old son's school, apparently with 
the intention of abducting the boy.

Colin Reginal, the Deputy Executive Secretary of AUMOHD, and Montes Plaisimé, 
the organization's Public Relations Officer, may also be at risk as they have 
been directly involved in judicial proceedings concerning massacres in the 
neighbourhoods of Martissant and Grand Ravine, allegedly perpetrated by an 
armed group with the help of police officers. Human rights activist Bruner 
Esterne was murdered on 21 September, apparently because he was an eyewitness 
to one of these massacres (please see original UA).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in 
French, English or your own language:
- expressing concern at these recent acts of intimidation against Evel Fanfan 
and his family, and of other members of AUMOHD;
- urging the authorities to immediately 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 and intimidation against Evel Fanfan and 
AUMOHD, 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:
General Director of the Haiti National Police
Monsieur Mario Andresol
Directeur Général de la Police Nationale d'Haïti
Grand Quartier Générale la Police, 12 rue Oscar Pacot, Port-au-Prince, Haïti 
(W.I.)
Fax: + 509 245 7374
Salutation: Monsieur le Directeur Général/Dear Mr. Andresol

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 d'Accueil, Delmas 60, Musseau, Port-au-Prince, 
HAITI (W.I.)
Fax: + 509 249 5561
Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Ministre/ Dear Prime Minister

Minister of Justice and Public Security
Monsieur René Magloire
Ministre de la Justice et de la Sécurité Publique, 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)
Delmas 47, no. 4, 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 28 November 2006.

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