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So Ann is finally RELEASED from prison in Haiti<br><br>
So Ann (Annette August) who has been in prison for over two years (since
May 10, 2004) is in the process of being RELEASED. Apparently the Haitian
police are escorting her home as I write this (8:21pm) This is the latest
information we've received from Haiti. We are on the phone with Haiti
righ now. Our Haiti contact was at the Palè Jistis, at a hearing where So
Ann, along with others, including Yvon Zap Zap, Paul Raymond, and
George Honore have had their cases examined by the judicial
authorities.<br><br>
The hearing has been going on most of the day. According to our Haiti
contact, who knows that HLLN was the first to report and write about So
Ann's arrest and has been very anxious to see her release, the Haitian
judge in charge has found that there is NO EVIDENCE whatsoever to hold So
Ann in prison. (See, HLLN's report on the arrest of Sò Ann and the May
12, 2004 Urgent Action Alert: Defenseless Haitian Children hooded and
manacled (ala Iraqi prisoner/terrorists treatment) by US Marines in the
dead of night in Haiti
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/so_anne_arrestupdate.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/so_anne_arrestupdate.html<br>
</a>
;<a href="http://www.sfbayview.com/051204/soanne051204.shtml" eudora="autourl">
http://www.sfbayview.com/051204/soanne051204.shtml</a> and See Conspiracy
of Not, by Ezili Danto, May 13, 2004
<a href="http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/conspiracy.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/conspiracy.html</a>)<br><br>
According to all the inquiries and investigations presented by the
prosecuting folks in Haiti, the determination is that there was no legal
reason for So Ann to have been put in jail in the first place. For
instance, our Haiti contact explains that no one showed up to testify
against these defendants. For example, our contact who was in the
courtroom reports that Charles Henri Baker was one of the folks who had
filed a complaint against So Ann for the Dec. 5, 2003 University
incident. Apparently all those who signed complaints against So Ann,
including Charles Henri Baker, and all those who filed complaints for the
other three in court today, simply did not show up in court to prove
their claims when their names where called up and allegations read.
Apparently Haitian defense attorney Mario Joseph was well prepared and
showed medical records to show where So Ann was on December 5, 2004 and
other evidence that exonerated all the wrongfully and illegally held
detainees. According to our latest report, the only folks who showed up
in court where the supporters of the detainees. Again, none of the folks
who signed complaints against So Ann and the others showed up to litigate
their claims.<br><br>
<br>
After hearing all of Mario Joseph evidence, the government prosecutor
(Commissaire Gouvernment) asked that So Ann and all the prisoners
be immediately released to go to their homes and be with their
families.<br><br>
Our Haiti contact's understanding is that the prisoners will go to their
homes directly and not back to prison to be processed out. Apparently the
necessary documents have been all signed. Tomorrow apparently is Yvon Zap
Zap's wife's birthday and many Haitian folks are finally starting to feel
today was a good day for Haiti.<br><br>
Stay tuned for further HLLN details on this developing story. Let your
friends know a glimmer of hope came through today for Haitian women
and Haiti.<br><br>
Marguerite Laurent, Esq.<br>
Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network<br>
August 14, 2006, 8:21 p.m. <br><br>
*******************************************<br>
HLLN BACKGROUND INFORMATION<br>
********************************************<br><br>
Letter from Jail, Annette (Sò Ann) Auguste<br>
- May 10, 2005<br><br>
<br>
May 10, 2004, May 10, 2005:<br><br>
Twelve months since I was arrested by the U.S. Marines in Port-au-Prince.
They accused me of having contact with Haitian Muslims and planning to
attack them. On May 10, 2004, the U.S. Marines assaulted, brutally, my
home in the middle of the night with explosives and large arms;
terrorizing all within, especially the small children of my
family.<br><br>
I speak to the world as a prisoner of conscience in Haiti, held in
detention for my political beliefs and convictions. I can never forget
the trauma these men have caused to the youngest and most vulnerable of
our household. I think none of us will ever be able to forget the inhuman
treatment we were subjected to in the course of this violent action
undertaken in the name of the Bush government for what it calls “BUILDING
DEMOCRACY” in my homeland.<br><br>
From my cell, I am giving hope by the many voices being raised against
the injustice the people of Haiti are being forced to suffer today. I am
grateful to Congresswoman Maxine Waters and countless others who have
stood up in solidarity with the Haitian people in order to stop the
bloodletting and help the outside world to know the truth and reality we
are faced today.<br><br>
I send you all my love and gratitude for remaining strong in separating
the lies from the truth in Haiti’s current situation. I send you all my
blessings as a free Haitian woman fighting for the rights of the
impoverished majority in my homeland.<br><br>
They may imprison my body, but they will never imprison the truth I know
in my soul. I will continue to fight for justice and truth in Haiti until
I draw my last breath.<br><br>
ANNETTE AUGUSTE (Sò An)<br>
May 10, 2005<br>
Penitentiary of Pétion-Ville (Haiti)<br>
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