[News] Haiti - December 30 - Government blocks release of Lavalas prisoners

[News at freedomarchives.org]

AHP News - December 30, 2004 - English translation (Unofficial)



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Marchers in Port-au-Prince call for the release of the political prisoners



Port-au-Prince, December 30, 2004  (AHP)- The GDP (Group for the Defense of 
the Rights of Political Prisoners staged a peaceful march again Thursday in 
Port-au-Prince to press the interim authorities to free the political 
prisoners held illegally in the country's detention centers.

Wives and children of the political prisoners said they were impatient to 
see their husbands and fathers come home after several months of illegal 
imprisonment.

One of the spouses appealed to the interim authorities, urging them, she 
said, to renounce their habit of lying  and embark on the road to justice 
instead.

  "Our husbands must no longer be held in prison because of their political 
opinions", she said.

For his part, GDP coordinator Ronald St-Jean, who was at the head of the 
demonstration, demanded publication of the results of the investigation 
into the December 1st massacre at the National Penitentiary, which the 
transition government claimed it has undertaken.

According to consistent testimony, several dozen prisoners were killed by 
the police in the carnage.

Ronald St-Jean deplored that political prisoners such as Pétion Rospide, 
Paul Keller, Jacques Anthony Nazaire and Harold Sévère have not been 
released even though the court has ordered their release in a ruling issued 
on December 29.

"We are going to go all the way in our efforts to win the release to all 
the political prisoners, and end the political persecution and the 
slaughters", asserted the GDP director.

According to U.S. officials, most of the people held in prison are there 
because of wild accusations or because their names have been mentioned over 
the airwaves.

Several of the detainees' homes have been demolished and their property 
looted in this context.



AHP  December 30, 2004  1:10 PM



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Hundreds of Lavalas activists demonstrate in Port-au-Prince to call for the 
return of constitutional government and the release of all of the political 
prisoners
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Port-au-Prince, December 30, 2004  (AHP)- Hundreds of Fanmi Lavalas 
activists demonstrated this Thursday in Port-au-Prince to advocate the 
release of all the political prisoners who have been incarcerated for 
several months in a number of detention facilities in Haiti.

This was the first in a series of daily mobilizations announced for 
December 30th and 31st, 2004 and January 1st, 2005 to call for the return 
of constitutional government to the country.

A spokesperson for the Lavalas activists, Samba Boukman, remarked that they 
can not remain in this difficult situation indefinitely, with people from 
the poorest neighborhoods excluded and living in filth.

"We are the sons and daughters of the country, we should be able to enjoy 
the same rights as all the others", declared Samba Boukman.

The activists say they are determined to fight to the end for the return of 
constitutional government, the only condition under which there can be 
elections in Haiti in order that all Haitians may have better living 
conditions.



AHP  December 30, 2004  3:50 PM



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Political prisoners remain locked in prison despite orders for their release


Port-au-Prince, December 30, 2004  (AHP)- Mr. Edwidge S. Coque, who is the 
attorney for former police commissioner Anthony Nazaire spoke out Thursday 
to denounce the interim government for its systematic violations of human 
rights.

Mr. Coque accused the transitional authorities of having blocked the 
release from prison of four detainees whose release had been ordered by a 
court ruling dated December 29.

The detainees in question are Paul Keller, former director of the National 
Council of Facility Amenities  (CNE), Rospide Pétion, Harold Sévère, former 
mayor of Port-au-Prince, and former police commissioner Anthony Nazaire.

Mr. Edwidge Coque deplored that the government is doing exactly the same 
thing it criticized previous governments of doing. He urged that justice be 
independent and applied equally for all.



AHP  December 30, 2004  3:15 PM



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