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For Immediate Release:
For further information, contact:
Mr. Jocelyn McCalla, Executive Director a.i.
(212) 337-0005 ext. 11
(862) 452-7196 (cell)
jmccalla@nchr.org
Haiti: Right to Peaceful Assembly Denied
Pro-Aristide Mobs Attack University Students
to Prevent Rally in Nation’s Capital
Dozens Hospitalized
Haitian Rights Group Expresses Deep Concern
New York, December 5, 2003 – University students were denied
the right today to peacefully express disagreement with
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s stewardship of Haiti’s
affairs when pro-government mobs attacked them. Reports from
eyewitnesses and the media indicate that CIMO, Haiti’s anti-riot
police unit, stood by while the mobs rioted in the street before
forcing their way into the building where the students were
gathering, striking them with makeshift weapons and injuring
dozens.
"It is very unfortunate that Haiti’s government leaders have
increasingly resorted to naked violence to suppress dissent,"
said Mr. Jocelyn McCalla, interim Executive Director of the
NY-based National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR). According
to Pierre Esperance, Director of NCHR-Haiti, today’s violence
stands as one of the worst perpetrated against students since
1993 when Haitian military leaders forcibly shut down the State
University, preventing students then to express support for
Aristide’ return to power.
During the past year, Haiti has witnessed a growing movement
in favor of leadership change with much of the focus on
President Aristide. In the country, the rule of law has little
or no meaning. The police and the judiciary are deeply
politicized and rely on a network of loosely organized but
heavily armed gangs to suppress dissent and intimidate the
population. Despite repeated promises, political killings remain
unsolved. Such is the case for Jean Dominique, killed almost
four years ago in April 2000.
The government stands as one of the most corrupt in the
world, according to Transparency International. And most
development specialists agree that poor governance remains the
greatest impediment to effective international assistance.
President Aristide is no longer as popular as ten years ago when
Haitians fought for his return from exile. "Today they’re dying
because of him," said McCalla, adding: "We will not stand by
while the young women and men of Haiti suffer the debilitating
wounds of failed policies and despotic behavior. We urge our
colleagues in the international community to join us in
condemning the government-sponsored violence, and insist on the
strict respect of civil and political rights as sine qua non
conditions for progress in Haiti."
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