INTERNATIONAL
ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE FOR JEAN DOMINIQUE
March 15, 2002
Dear President Aristide,
We are writing in support of the Radio Haiti editorial
by Michele Montas of February 3, 2002, the memorandum
from the Fondation Eko Vwa Jean Dominique from February
12, 2002, and the numerous human rights organizations,
journalists and supporters of Haiti who remain deeply
concerned that justice prevail in the murder of Jean
Dominique.
Again, we urge you, as the Chief of State, to renew
the mandate of Judge Claudy Gassant. Not only does his
exhaustive investigation into the deaths of Jean Dominique
and Jean-Claude Louissant offer the clearest hope that
justice will prevail, but the failure to reappoint him
raises tremendous doubts about the Lavalas Party's commitment
to a functioning and free judicial system.
We ask you further, to insist that all the resources
of the government be made available to Judge Gassant.
That includes publicly supporting that action be taken
on the arrest warrants issued for Richard Salomon, Frank
Joseph and Ronald Camille that remain shockingly unexecuted
to this date.
In addition, it is imperative that Senator Dany Toussaint's
parliamentary immunity be lifted. That a prime witness
in this case is allowed to publicly intimidate and effectively
stymie both the judiciary and parliament offers a clear
signal to Haiti - and to the rest of the world - that
certain basic democratic principles are dysfunctional
today in Haiti.
As the leader of Haiti, you have spoken often and
passionately over the years about establishing a climate
of tolerance, about the right of free expression, safety
for journalists and the necessity for an open, unprejudiced
judicial system. The murder of Jean Dominique and Jean-Claude
Louissant has become the international test case of
whether those democratic sentiments are sincere.
Please, for the sake of Haiti's future, the integrity
of both your administration and the political party
you head, return the Jean Dominique file to Judge Gassant
and exert all your Presidential power and influence
to make sure justice is done.
Respectfully yours,
International Alliance for Justice for Jean Dominique
Woody Allen Jonathan Demme Danny Glover Richard Gere
Wycleff Jean Norman Mailer Toni Morrison Paul Newman
Sting Tim Robbins Suzanne Sarandon Julia Roberts Denzel
Washington Robin Williams Robert Altman Quincy Jones
Paul Thomas Anderson Stephen King Robert De Niro Natasha
Richardson John Cusack Travis Anderson Glenn Allen Jorge
Aguirre 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 Max Blanchet Marcel Bluwal (France) Robert
Bookman John Boorman (Ireland) Kader Boukhanef (France)
Judith Boukhanef-Haïm (France) Ron Bozman Taylor
Branch Adam Brooks Claude Brulé (France) Anthony
Calypso Jean Cl. Carrière (France) Kathleen Carroll
Father Robert Castle Shari Cavin Mishka Cheyko (France)
Ethan Coen Joel Coen Marc Cohen Alix Conde Claude Confortes
(France) Janet Branch Cooke Roger Corman Alain Corneau
(France) Jonathan Cott Ophelia Dahl Edwidge Danticat
Leslee Dart Ossie Davis 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-Aimé
Jean-Paul Fils-Aimé Tony Fitzpatrick Milos Forman
Gil Friesen Alain Franck (France) Peter Gabriel (UK)
Rene Gattereau Lizi Gelber (France) Joyce George Amos
Gitai (Israel) Danny Glover Gary Goetzman Spalding Gray
Brian Grazer David Greenberger Lynn Grossman J.-C. Grumberg
(France) Hans Hageman Ivan Hageman Margareta Haïm
(France) Victor Haïm (France) Lisa Gay Hamilton
Thomas Harris Beth Henley Laurent Heynemann (France)
Bonnie Hlinomaz Caroline Huppert (France) Mary Beth
Hurt Amy Irving Sakina Jaffrey Gina Jarrin Jean Jean-Pierre
Margo Jefferson Norman Jewison Spike Jonze Nelly Kaplan
(France) Anna Karina (France) Andy Keir Wendy Keys David
E. Kelley Philippe Kelly (France) Polly King Alexa Kleinbard
Beth Kling Lewis Kornhauser Michael Kuhling Christine
Lahti Pascal Lainé (France) Vincent Landay Darrell
Larson Paul Lazar Norman Lear Spike Lee Patrick Lemoine
Pierre-Ange Le Pogam (France) John Lesher Catherine
Leterrier (France) Skip Lievsay Carol Littleton Sidney
Lumet Polly Mallinson (UK) Eduardo Manet (France) Michael
Mann Jean-Pierre Marchand (France) Philippe Mari (France)
Philippe-Richard Marius Mathilda May (France) Jocelyne
Mayas James McBride Errol McDonald Craig McKay Bevin
McNamara Mike Medavoy Jo Menell Randall Morris Teresa
Mulha John Paul Newport Thandie Newton (UK) Rick Nicita
Duafe Nkuruma-Kesee Rainer Nurnberger 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 Emmanuel
Rigaut (France) Randall Robinson Jim Roche Arundhati
Roy Peter Saraf 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 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 Urfié (Italy) Steven Van Zandt
Edie Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Pauletta Washington
Joe Weisbord Claudette Werleigh Amy Wilentz Daniel Wolff
Alfre Woodard Kristi Zea cc: Prime Minister of the Republic
of Haiti, S.E Yvon Neptune 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. Jean Baptiste Brown 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. Jack Straw 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
Frontiers, 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 PEN American Center Michael
Tigar Esq. Ramsey Clark Esq.
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