HAITI

Press freedom is still threatened, and it is feared that violence against journalists and the media may increase during the election campaign. A journalist was killed during a skirmish between security forces for the second time this year. In January, Abdias Jean was killed while covering a police action in Cité de Dieu. And Robenson Laraque, 26, of Radio Contacto FM, died on April 4 after being hit by two bullets during violence on March 20 between soldiers of the U.N. Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and demobilized military men, in Petit-Goâve, 68 kilometers south of Port-au-Prince. The case that received the most public attention was the killing of renowned journalist Jacques Roche. It is believed that he was not killed for professional reasons, but just in the course of an ordinary crime. Roche, cultural editor of the daily Le Matin, was kidnapped July 10 in Port-au-Prince. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $250,000. Despite the ongoing negotiations, his naked, handcuffed and mutilated body was found on July 14 in a neighborhood of the capital. Roche edited the section “Cultural” of Le Matin, hosted a talk show on local television and was a radio sports commentator. On June 11, Richard Widmaier, news director of Radio Métropole, escaped a kidnapping attempt. On June 16, Nancy Roc, host of the program “Metropolis” on Radio Métropole¸ had to leave the country after being threatened. On September 9, AP correspondent Jean Ristil Baptiste and cameraman Kevin Pina were jailed and held for three days. The two journalists were arrested while they were covering a police operation in Santa-Clara Church of Petite Place Cazeau. In June there was a journalists’ strike promoted by Joseph Guyler C. Delva, president of the Association of Haitian Journalists. Three television networks (Télémax, Canal 11 and Tele Ginen), eight radio stations, including Mélodie FM, Solidarité, Tropic FM, Mega Star, Ginen, and the Haitian Press Agency participated. “The transition government does not have the authority to threaten the media with sanctions,” said Delva, referring to an official statement from the Council of Minister that issued a warning to “all the media and journalists that transmit hate speech, pernicious language or offer their microphone to bandits.” The Council of Ministers’ statement denounced in particular “abuses of freedom of expression.” On October 3, a security agent of the National Palace refused to allow Joseph Guyler C. Delva, who is also a correspondent for Reuters, from attending the opening ceremony of the Court of Justice, presided by President Boniface Alexandre. Journalist Méroné Jn Wickens, of Radio Métropole, was interrogated by another agent, who took his National Palace press card.