22230: erzilidanto: Committee to Protect Journalists Denounces Attacks on Haitian Press (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Erzilidanto@aol.com


COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA     Phone: (212) 465-1004     Fax:
(212) 465-9568     Web: www.cpj.org     E-Mail: media@cpj.org


 Contacts: Carlos Lauría, program coordinator       Phone: (212) 465-9344,
x120; E-mail: clauria@cpj.org
    Sauro González Rodríguez, researcher    Phone: (212) 465-9344, x118;
E-mail: sgonzalez@cpj.org

HAITI: Cameraman detained without charge

New York, June 2, 2004-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed
that Haiti's transitional government has detained a cameraman without charge.
Officials have also closed a radio and television station owned by the
Aristide Foundation for Democracy, which was founded by former President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

On Friday, May 28, police arrested Aryns Laguerre, a cameraman with the
television station Télé Ti Moun, in the capital, Port-au-Prince. According to
Guyler Delva, secretary-general of the Haitian Journalists Association, Laguerre is
being held without charge.

Delva met with police officers on Saturday, May 29, who said they found four
bullets in one of Laguerre's pockets, and that he was being detained for
further investigation. Laguerre denied that he was carrying any bullets, according
to Delva. The Haitian government has given no explanation about the arrest.

CPJ tried to reach Justice Minister Bernard Gousse and police Chief Leon
Charles, but they were unavailable for comment.

Station shuttered
According to local press reports, on May 18, a justice of the peace and
several police officers closed the offices of Radio and Télé Ti Moun and would not
allow employees into the building. The government has not given any reason for
the closure.

On March 1, anti-Aristide activists ransacked the Télé Ti Moun offices after
Aristide left Haiti on February 29.

Since the uprising that led to Aristide's departure began on February 5,
pro-Aristide radio stations around the country have been attacked. CPJ has
documented three cases in which journalists working for these stations have been
illegally detained by former Haitian soldiers.

"It is critical in this period of political and social instability that
Haitians receive and disseminate information freely," said CPJ Executive Director
Ann Cooper. "We call on Haitian authorities to release Laguerre and reopen Télé
Ti Moun."

For more information about press freedom conditions in Haiti, visit
www.cpj.org . CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works
to safeguard press freedom around the world.

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Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers Leadership
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"Men anpil chaj pa lou"  is Kreyol for - "Many hands make light a heavy load."

See, The Haitian Leadership Networks'  7 "men anpil chaj pa

lou" campaigns to help restore Haiti's independence, the will of the mass
electorate and the rule of law. See,
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/haitianlawyers.html ; http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html

and Haitiaction.net

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