Haiti Democracy Project

www.haitipolicy.org

Foundation to Echo the Voice of Jean Dominique

Open Letter

Regarding the Investigation Into the Assassinations of Jean L. Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint

Fellow citizens,

In light of the current situation in Haiti, particularly after the latest developments surrounding the investigation into the assassinations of Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint, we must remain calm. Yet, at the same time, in the face of the troubles that certain individuals are trying to spread, we must remain vigilant in order to block the path of all those criminals and wrongdoers whose hands are stained with the blood of that eminent man and his co-worker.

The crime that was committed in the courtyard of Radio Haiti on April 3, 2000 will not be solved with crafty declarations.... but rather through a proper trial in the courtroom. The ordinance to be issued by the investigating judge will be the foundation for this trial. It is this ordinance that we await impatiently. Yet today, we hear that troubles are brewing once again. It seems that those implicated in the death of Jean Do have once again hired assassins. This time, it is Judge Claudy Gassant, the judge investigating the crime, who is their target. They believe that they will thus be able to block the ordinance, that they can avoid trial. They believe that they can once again sow terror, so that the people in this country will never vanquish this two-headed beast that is impunity/insecurity and which gives birth to injustice. They believe that they can condemn Haiti's history to eternal repetition.

Fellow citizens, Justice stands at an historic crossroads in the case of the assassinations of Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint. We can chose lend a hand to do away with impunity; we can choose to cross our arms and allow impunity to continue to gain momentum. If we refuse to join our efforts, this historical crossroads will turn into just another roundabout, like many others before it. We each have our part to play. For this reason, we who have signed this letter address special words to these citizens in particular:

Investigating Judge Claudy Gassant :

Judge Gassant, we salute the courage, determination and professionalism which you have shown thus far in handling the Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint case. We encourage you not to let these new threats stop you from continuing your important work. We, along with many other organizations throughout the world, support you and we remain vigilant. But, until your ordinance is published, your work is not finished. You know that the public thirsts for the conclusions of your investigation, but we won't accept a shoddy ordinance, we won't accept a bogus ordinance. We are all aware that this ordinance will be the cornerstone for the prosecution of the case in the courts. We await, but we can't afford to wait too long...

Public Prosecutor Attorney Josué Pierre-Louis :

Attorney Pierre-Louis, it is you who stands in the upcoming crossroads for this historic case. As defender of the public good, you are responsible for quickly and properly enacting the judge's ordinance. We hope that you will act calmly and in accordance with the law in order to arrest all those who are charged as perpetrators or accomplices in this crime, no matter who they may be. History will judge you for the role that you play.

Minister of Justice Attorney Garry Lissade:

Minister Lissade, you are the overseer of the justice system, and the Haitian people are watching you closely. It is your responsibility to provide all the means necessary to ensure that this case can move forward. We are tired of empty declarations. We await actions. Today once again, we hear news of a plot being prepared to assassinate the investigative judge, Claudy Gassant. We remind you that it is you, Minister Lissade, who is directly responsible for protecting the life of the judge working on this case. You are aware that this case is extremely important for the nation, as well as for the reputation of the very judicial system that you lead. We demand yet once again that you take all measures necessary to protect the lives and property of those close to the victims, as well as all other individuals who are involved in the case in one way or another. When the case meets obstacles, it is your responsibility to remove them so that it may move forward.

President of the Republic, Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide:

President Aristide : May we remind you that you swore to uphold and to ensure respect for the nation's constitution. In addition, over the airwaves of Radio Haiti on April 3, 2000, you acknowledged your responsibility and you gave your word that you would not allow anything prevent the judicial system from meting out justice. The eyes of all Haiti and of the entire world are watching you. We wait for you to show us that justice is not simply a meaningless word for you.

Fellow citizens, Justice is a right. It is not a handout for which we must beg. Yet, for too long, the cauldron of justice in this country has been cooked on one side only. Before it is served, it is divided up between those with power and means. Today, we solemnly swear that we refuse to content ourselves with the burned portion, we refuse the uncooked morsels. We demand that the cauldron be allowed to cook completely, and that its contents be served up in equal measure for all the nation's children.

Fellow citizens, The persons who wish to stand in the path of justice for Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint may have hatched a plan, but they are lousy strategists. We will strengthen our bonds of solidarity so that Jean Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint may receive justice. We, the civil society organizations who have sent this letter, we are determined to organize tirelessly in order to strengthen our mobilization against the two-headed beast of impunity/insecurity that is ravaging Haiti. We encourage each and every citizen, man and woman alike ; and each and every organization, be it in Port au Prince or in the countryside, to join in. Journalists have fallen, teachers have perished. Elders have fallen, children have perished. Men from the city have fallen, women from the countryside have perished. School children have fallen, workers have perished. Policemen have fallen, civilians have perished. Doctors have fallen, businessmen have perished. Priests have fallen, nuns have perished. Pastors have fallen, voudou worshipers have perished. And as Jean Do warned us : « The assassins are still amongst us. Who will be the next victim? » Let us rise up together massively so as to stop this train of death, so as to bury once and for all the phenomenon of impunity. Haitians, wherever you may be, brave compatriots, what could be more important than protecting life ?

Haitian Civil Society Organizations Which Have Signed To Date*:

Antenn Ouvriyè - Association des Journalists Haïtiens (AJH) - Association
parents des enfants victims d'intoxication au diéthylène glicol (APEVIDIGH) -
Centre de Développement des Ressources Humaines - Centre Oecuménique Droits
Humains (CODH) - Centre Oecuménique Haïtien d'Intervention en Milieu Rural et
Urbain (COHIMRU) - Centre de recherche et d'action pour la promotion des
droits de l'homme et de la femme (CRAPDHOF) - Centre pour le Libre Entreprise
et la Démocratie (CLED) - Club des Journalists Humanists d'Haïti - Coalition
National pour les Droits Haitiens (NCHR) - Collectif synical d'Haïti (COSYNA)
- Conféderation Nationale des Educateurs Haïtiens (CNEH) - Federation des
Employés d'Electricité d'Haïti (FESTREDH) - Fon Lanbi Pou Ayiti - Fondasyon
Eko Vwa Jean Dominique - Fondasyon Kole Zepol (FONKOZE) - Fondasyon Trant
Septanm - Haïti Progrès - Komite Defans Entere Nasyonal (KODENA) - Komite
Leve Kanpe (KLK) - Komite Zafè Elektoral pou Eleksyon Pwòp (KOZEPEP) - Konbit
pou Sove Ayiti (KONSA) - Kowodinasyon paran viktim masak Kafou Fey - Mouvman
pou Inite ti peyizan Ayisyen (MITPA) - Plateforme des Organisations
Haïtiennes des Droits Humains (POHDH) - Radyo Eko Pilat - Radio Haïti - Radyo
Inite Sen Michel Latalay - Radyo N'ap Pote Laviktwa - Radio Pyramide FM/St
Marc - Réseau Caraïbeen de Presse (RECAP) - Solidarite Fanm Ayisyen (SOFA) -
Sosyete Animasyon ak Kominikasyon Sosyal (SAKS) - Tet Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen
- Unité d'Appui en Genre (UAG)

Les organisations internationales qui ont signé en signe de solidarité *:

Bay Area Haitian American Coalition (BAHACO) - Beyond Borders - Bring
Pinochet to Justice Campaign of the Institute for Policy Studies - Center for
Economic Justice (CEJ) - Center for International Policy (CIP) - Ecumenical
Program on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA) - Ethical Action
Committee of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture - Fonkoze USA -
Grassroots International - Haiti Support Network - Haitian American
Nationalist for Democracy (HAND) - Lambi Fund of Haiti - Reporters Sans
Frontières (RSF) - West African Girls Empowerment (WAGE) - Washington Office
on Latin America (WOLA) - Windows on Haiti

* Nous continuons à recueillir des signatures....

* We are still collecting signatures.