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</font><h5><b>AHP News- April 7, 2004 - English translation
(Unofficial)<br>
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Amnesty international denounces serious violations of human rights
committed in Haiti since the departure of Aristide <br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, April 7,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> Amnesty International, the international human rights
organization, presented a report of its findings Wednesday in a news
briefing at the conclusion of a 15 day research mission in Haiti
regarding the human rights situation in the country.<br><br>
The members of the Amnesty International delegation indicated that they
had conducted more than 50 interviews in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan
area through which a profound sense of insecurity and fear was expressed
despite the presence of the multinational force. <br><br>
The human rights organization's representative to the United Nations,
Yvonne Terlingen, emphasized that Amnesty International has received
reports of cases of summary executions and abductions of supporters of
Fanmi Lavalas. <br><br>
Ms. Terlingen stated that the situation is even more complex today
because of the increase in the number of political actors. The armed
bands remain far more numerous than they were prior to the sudden
departure of Aristide on February 29. <br><br>
At the news conference, Amnesty International also denounced the
Latortue government for its aggressive hunt for individuals close
to Lavalas on accusations of presumed involvement in cases of human
rights violations, while other individuals already convicted of crimes
who escaped from prison or who have taken refuge abroad are walking the
streets with complete impunity and in plain sight of the Latortue
government. <br><br>
Yvonne Terlingen stated that the interim government should issue a strong
public statement committing itself to fighting impunity. Individuals
responsible for human rights violations should be brought to justice
regardless of their political affiliation, she emphasized. <br><br>
The human rights organization also stressed the government's need to
disarm all armed groups in order to provide security for all Haitians.
<br><br>
Several domestic as well as international sectors have recently expressed
astonishment at statements by the interim prime minister hailing the
Anti-Aristide rebels in Gonaïves as "freedom fighters".
<br><br>
During the research mission, Amnesty International met with provisional
President Boniface Alexandre, Justice Minister Bernard Gousse and
police director general Léonce Charles regarding Haiti's urgent need of a
justice system and police that are impartial, so as to guarantee respect
for individual liberties. <br><br>
Amnesty International was highly critical of the Multinational Interim
Force, which the organization said has made no serious effort together
with the Haitian police to disarm the armed gangs. <br><br>
Amnesty deplored the fact that promises to that effect made by France and
the United States have thus far not been fulfilled. <br><br>
The Amnesty International delegation said it had also visited the
National Penitentiary where more than 40 people are detained, a majority
of whom are members of Fanmi Lavalas, including the former interior
minister of the Aristide government, Jocelerme Privert, who was
arrested in the middle of the night on Monday. They are being held under
the protection of the multinational force, Amnesty said. <br><br>
According to the organization, officials of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti
were not in a position to provide any details on accusations against
these detainees. <br><br>
Amnesty International asked the U.S. government to clarify these arrests.
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</font><h5><b>AHP April 7, 2004 3:40 PM <br><br>
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CARLI denounces summary executions perpetrated in March 2004 as well as
the double standard of the Latortue government in the area of
justice<br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, April
7, 2004 -(AHP)- </b>The Committee of Lawyers for the respect of
Individual Liberties (CARLI) published a report this Wednesday on its
"Hot Line" program for the month of March 2004. <br><br>
In the report, the Haitian human rights organization describes several
cases of human rights violations and telephone appeals received from
several victims. <br><br>
CARLI Secretary General Renan Hédouville said that during the month of
March several cases of summary execution were documented, notably that of
five young men murdered by police officers stationed at the Cafeteria
precinct station. <br><br>
The victims were members of the Fanmi Lavalas political
organization. <br><br>
CARLI also described the killing of four individuals including one
journalist on March 7 during a demonstration by the opposition political
Platform to celebrate the departure of President Aristide. <br><br>
In addition, Renan Hédouville denounced the policy of double standards
practiced by the Latortue government. <br><br>
"It is inconceivable that individuals indicted by the judiciary as
well as convicted prisoners who have escaped from detention facilities
continue to benefit from the laxness of the judicial system",
asserted Mr. Hédouville. He wondered whether the struggle for human
rights and the establishment of the rule of law in Haiti is over.
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</font><h5><b>AHP April 7, 2004 4:00 PM
</b></h5><font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
</font><font size=3><a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">www.freedomarchives.org</a></font></body>
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