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PREN/98/04
Rapporteurship deplores the weakening of Freedom of
Expression in Haiti
Washington, D.C., January 22, 2004.
The Office of
the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), deplores the attacks against the
exercise of the right to freedom of expression in Haiti, as well as the
aggressions and acts of intimidation against journalists and the media in
the country.
In December and January, the Rapporteurship has been informed of threats
against the life and physical integrity of several Haitian journalists.
Among them, were Rodson Josselin from Haïti Press Network; Nancy Roc, Cossy
Roosevelt and Meroné Jean Wickens, from Radio Métropole; Fegentz Calès Paul,
from Radio Antilles; Marie-Lucie Bonhomme, Valéry Numa, Josué Jean and Wendy
Richard, from Vision 2000; Hans Pierre-Louis and Patrick Chéry, from Radio
Ibo; Lilianne Pierre-Paul and Sony Bastien, from Radio Kiskeya; and Jean
Robert Ballant, from Radio Sud-FM.
During the last several weeks, the Office has also become aware of many
attacks against media assets. The studios of Radio Delta, Radio Lumiére de
la Jeunesse Saint-Marçoise (LJS), Radio America and Radio Pyramide were set
on fire. On January 13, a group of armed men attacked with hammers the radio
transmission plants of eight radio stations and a television network around
Bouthilliers, in Port-au-Prince. The media attacked, which represent a
variety of different viewpoints, are: Radio Kiskeya, Radio Commerciale,
Radio Signal FM, Radio Galaxie, Radio Mélodie FM, Radio Magic Stéreo, Radio
Plus, Radio Ti-Moun and Télé Ti Moun. In December, the Office of the Special
Rapporteur was also informed about several attacks against Radio Vision
2000, Radio Maxima, Radio Métropole, Radio Caraïbes and Radio Kiskeya.
In a press communiqué released on December 9, the IACHR expressed its
concern and emphasized that all Haitians, whatever their political
allegiance, are entitled to full and free exercise of their right to freedom
of expression in accordance with the Inter-American Convention on Human
Rights.
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression will continue
to follow the situation in Haiti, and will specially inform the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on this issue during its next
period of sessions in February 2004.
GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN
STATES, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
Internet: http://www.cidh.org
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