22599: Benodin: The Communication Office of the Prime Minister would like to notify the public of the following: (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

The Communication Office of the Prime Minister would like to notify the
public of the following:
PRESS RELEASE
                The former Prime Minister of the Lavalas Government, Mr.
Yvon Neptune, has been put under arrest by agents of the National Police and
taken to the national penitentiary, the principal jail in Port-au-Prince.
Mr. Neptune was indicted by the examining magistrate of the civil court of
St. Marc, Clunie Pierre Jules for masterminding and taking part, in
collusion with members of “Bale Wouze” a grassroots organization, in the
massacre perpetrated at “La Scierie” a neighborhood located in St. Marc
where a number of homes were set on fire.
                Upon release of the news, the Prime Minister, His Excellency
Gérard Latortue while reiterating the government’s condemnation of such
criminal acts and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to trial,
called for the law to expedite the proceedings and do everything possible to
ensure that Mr. Neptune be given a fair and speedy trial.
                On this occasion, M. Latortue also stated that the
transitional government has shown its determination to respect the rights of
former members of the Lavalas Government who have not been threaten with
physical harms or otherwise as it has been the case in the past.  He also
emphasized that the Government was not involved in Mr. Neptune’s arrest and
that justice will take its normal course.
                Taking into account the fact that Mr. Neptune held high
positions in the country, as such he was entitled to certain considerations.
Mr. Latortue called for a swift administration of justice to establish the
responsibilities and asked that Mr. Neptune be promptly released should the
charges against him be dropped.
                To conclude, the Prime Minister, noted that for too long
public institutions have been used for private benefits and that the
establishment of the rule of law remains among the Government priorities.
To attain this goal, there must be changes in behavior, the
professionalization the police, an efficient justice system and the
organization of free, fair and democratic elections.
June 28 2004