Haiti Democracy Project

www.haitipolicy.org

June 15, 2001

International Alliance for Justice for Jean Dominique

Dear President Aristide,

The membership of the International Alliance for Justice for Jean Dominique deplores the recent developments at this crucial juncture in the Jean Dominique case. Of particular concern are the lax security conditions that have led to the resignation of Judge Claudy Gassant.

Additionally, Senator Dany Toussaint, a leading figure in your political party and an individual consistently referenced as a possible suspect in Jean Dominique's murder, is reportedly now proceeding with highly unorthodox activities including the questioning of incarcerated witnesses in the Dominique case. Senator Toussaint's ability to engage in such behaviour with apparent impunity is clearly a source of serious concern with regard to the administration of justice by your government in Haiti.

We join Reporters Sans Frontières (letter to Minister of Justice Gary Lissade, 12 June) and Civil Society Organizations of Haiti (open letter, 8 June) in reminding the Haitian government of its sacred duty to ensure the safe and independent consideration of Judge Gassant's report and the swift implementation of the conclusions delivered.

The Alliance deeply regrets that you have not yet had occasion to reply to our urgent communiqués of May 14 and April 25. As stated in the recent open letter from Haitian Civil Society Organizations dated 8 June 2001, 'The eyes of all Haiti and of the entire world are watching you.' The demand of this international audience is for absolute justice.

Respectfully yours,

Jorge Aguirre Glenn Allen Woody Allen Robert Altman Paul Thomas Anderson Travis Anderson Guy Antoine Dominique Arden (France) Neda Armian George Armitage Adrienne Armstrong Judy Arthur Lauren Bacall Eugenie Bafaloukos (Greece) John Bailey Ted Bafaloukos (Greece) Bob Balaban Bruno Barreto (Brazil) Ed Begley, Jr. Hercules Bellville (UK) Andrea Belokopitsky-Medard Patricia Benoit Luc Beraud (France) Luc Besson (France) David Blaine Marcel Bluwal (France) Robert Bookman John Boorman (Ireland) Kader Boukhanef (France) Ron Bozman Judith Boukhanef-Haïïm (France) Taylor Branch Adam Brooks Claude Bruléé (France) Anthony Calypso Jean Cl. Carrièère (France) Kathleen Carroll Father Robert Castle Marc Cohen Shari Cavin Mishka Cheyko (France) Ethan Coen Joel Coen Alix Conde Claude Confortes (France) Roger Corman Alain Corneau (France) Jonathan Cott John Cusack Ophelia Dahl Edwidge Danticat Leslee Dart Ossie Davis Jonathan Demme Ted Demme Robert De Niro Ruby Dee Claire Denis (France) Sophie Deschamps (France) David Dinkins Tashi Dolma (Tibet) Louise Doutreligne (France) Robert Downey, Sr. Joel Dreyfuss Katherine Dunham Ricot Dupuy Sister Carole East Nora Ephron Vera Feyder (France) Jacqueline Fils-Aiméé Jean-Paul Fils-Aiméé Tony Fitzpatrick Gil Friesen Milos Forman Alain Franck (France) Peter Gabriel (UK) Lizi Gelber (France) Joyce George Amos Gitai (Israel) Richard Gere Danny Glover Gary Goetzman Spalding Gray Brian Grazer David Greenberger Lynn Grossman J.-C. Grumberg (France) Margareta Haïïm (France) Victor Haïïm (France) Lisa Gay Hamilton Thomas Harris Beth Henley Laurent Heynemann (France) Bonnie Hlinomaz Caroline Huppert (France) Mary Beth Hurt Amy Irving Sakina Jaffrey Jean Jean-Pierre Margo Jefferson Spike Jonze Anna Karina (France) Stephen King Pradip Krishen (India) Hans Hageman Ivan Hageman Gina Jarrin Wyclef Jean Norman Jewison Quincy Jones Nelly Kaplan (France) Andy Keir Wendy Keys David E. Kelley Philippe Kelly (France) Polly King Alexa Kleinbard Beth Kling Lewis Kornhauser Michael Kuhling Christine Lahti Pascal Lainéé (France) Vincent Landay Darrell Larson Paul Lazar Norman Lear Spike Lee Patrick Lemoine John Lesher Catherine Leterrier (France) Skip Lievsay Carol Littleton Sidney Lumet Norman Mailer Pierre-Ange Le Pogam (France) Eduardo Manet (France) Michael Mann Jean-Pierre Marchand (France) Philippe Mari (France) Polly Mallinson (UK) Mathilda May (France) Jocelyne Mayas James McBride Errol McDonald Craig McKay Bevin McNamara ` Mike Medavoy Jo Menell Randall Morris Toni Morrison Teresa Mulha Paul Newman John Paul Newport Thandie Newton (UK) Rainer Nurnberger Rick Nicita Ron Nyswaner Ol Parker (UK) Gene Parseghian Annie-B Parson Gregory Peck Arthur Penn Suzana Peric Anna Hamilton Phelan Harold Pinter (UK) Johnny Planco Lucas Platt Marc Platt Sidney Poitier Rachel Portman (UK) Chip Post J.F. Prevand (France) Dominique Probst (France) Robert Redford Ken Regan Natasha Richardson Emmanuel Rigaut (France) Tim Robbins Julia Roberts Randall Robinson Jim Roche Arundhati Roy (India) Peter Saraf Susan Sarandon Ed Saxon Rob Schmidt Steve Schmidt Paul Schrader Martin Scorsese Leon Sevilla Stella Sevilla Bob Shacochis Jim Sheridan (Ireland) Howard Shore Ken Starr Mary Steenburgen Rudi Stern Sting Peter Stone Irwin Stotzky Trudie Styler Rose Styron Susanna Styron William Styron Barbara Sukowa J.Ch. Tacchella (France) Mary Tanneberger Valerie Thomas Robert Farris Thompson Mary Tobler Jean-Yves Urfiéé (Italy) Steven Van Zandt Edie Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Denzel Washington Pauletta Washington Joe Weisbord Amy Wilentz Robin Williams Daniel Wolff Alfre Woodard Kristi Zea

cc: Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, S.E Jean Marie Chérestal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti, S.E Joseph Philippe Antonio Minister for Justice and Public Safety of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. Gary Lissade Judge d'Instruction Tribunal Civil de Port au Prince, Judge Claudy Gassant, President of The United States of America, The Honorable Mr. George W. Bush Secretary of State of The United States of America, The Honorable Colin L. Powell US Ambassador to Haiti, Mr. Brian Dean Curran Prime Minister of France, Mr. Lionel Jospin Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Hubert Vedrine French Ambassador to Haiti, S.E Yves Gaudeul Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, The Rt Hon. Tony Blair Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, The Rt Hon. Robin Cook UK Ambassador to Haiti, Mr. D.G. Ward Secretary-General, United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan Executive Director of Amnesty International, Mr. Bill Schulz Chairman of Human Rights Watch, Mr. Jonathan Fanton Secretary General of Reporters Sans Frontières, Mr. Robert Menard Editor in Chief of Index on Censorship (UK), Ms. Ursula Owen Assistant Director General of UNESCO Programme for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace, Mr. Alain Modoux Executive Director of National Coalition for Haitian Rights, Mr. Jocelyn McCalla Executive Director of The Committee to Protect Journalists, Ms. Ann Kooper Ana Arana, The Inter-American Press Association Membership of the International Alliance for Justice for Jean Dominique PEN American Center Michael Tigar Esq. Ramsey Clark Esq.