Regional correspondent condemns murder of Haitian journalist

Monday, January 24, 2005

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Caribbean Net News Senior Regional Correspondent Norman ‘Gus’ Thomas, has written to the Prime Minister of Haiti, Gerald Latortue, condemning the murder of a fellow journalist and called on the Haitian government to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into the matter and to establish safeguards for journalists and other members of the media in the troubled French-Caribbean nation.

In his letter, the former Voice of America Correspondent and ex-Chief Information Officer to the Montserrat Government, condemns the murder of Abdias Jean, a fellow correspondent whom Thomas called a “good friend” and deplores all the other incidents of intimidation against journalists.

The St. Kitts-born Thomas says he hopes this type of behaviour against media workers, violence and the other murders that has gone unpunished, will come up for discussion at the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) Emergency Forum which is slated for February 3 in Port-au-Prince.

Thomas told Latortue that, information reaching him from fellow-media workers in Haiti revealed that earlier this month, on January14, Jean was simply doing his job covering an operation by the Haitian police which included a raid in the Village de Dieu which is said to be a stronghold of supporters of the deposed President Jean-Betrand Aristide.

Thomas also told the Prime Minister that information states that Jean was allegedly killed in retaliation for having seen the execution of three children in a case where members of the National Police have been fingered.

“Jean’s murder is another very serious attack against press freedom not only in Haiti but across the Caribbean. It brings back sad memories of the fatal 1979 stabbing of Father Bernard Darke of the Catholic Standard in Guyana when I worked in that country as a Correspondent. Sir, your government must address this matter speedily, “ Thomas said in his letter.

Thomas also revealed that two Fridays ago, two other journalists from Le Nouvelliste, Claude Bernard Serant and Jonel Juste, were assaulted by angry supporters and, on another occasion, the police confiscated videos, still photographs and other working material from journalists.

“Prime Minister, one of the pillars of democracy is a free press. It is essential therefore, that journalists be given respect and the necessary safeguards to conduct their work freely.

“I humbly ask that you take adequate and immediate steps so the authorities can launch an in-depth investigation to bring those responsible for my friend Jean’s death to justice,” the letter concluded.

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