Haiti

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Working conditions for journalists and news media continue to be deplorable, although according to international organizations some improvements and efforts to combat violence against journalists can be seen. With Michel Martelly assuming the presidency on May 14, following turbulent presidential elections, there have been some violent incidents against the press in recent months. Among the relevant developments during this period are the following: On April 8, fives journalists – Jacques Innocent, Guemsly Saint-Preux, Stéphane Cadet, Josias Pierre and former editor-in-chief Eddy Jackson Alexis – were fired from the state-owned Telévision Nationale d’Haïti. They said they were dismissed days after President Martelly visited the station over what he said was unfavorable political views of the head of state being broadcast. The channel’s director general, Pradel Henriquez, said that that it had been a campaign by the journalists against the president. Henriquez accused Pierre and Alexis of defamation, an offense punishable under Haitian law with imprisonment. On April 21, community radio station Tèt Ansanm Karis in the northeastern town of Carice was set on fire. The incident was attributed to former Congressman for the INITE (Unity) party, Jean Berthold Bastien, beaten in the March 20 general elections. There were no reports of injuries, but all the station’s equipment was destroyed. On May 2, the organization SOS Journalistes reported that reporters Jean-Claude Dumény and Patrick Jeune, in Haiti’s central region, went into hiding after receiving death threats. They were accused of having made unfavorable reports about some candidates running in the elections. On May 22, reporters Eric Julien, Elmuller Janvier and Lesny Jean in Gonaïves were roughed up by police officers who prevented them from doing their job during a visit by President Martelly to that city. They were shoved and beaten. On June 22, journalists Ernst Joseph and Wolf “Duralph” François, hosts of a program broadcast by Radio Prévention in Petit-Goâve in southwestern Haiti, were jailed by local authorities and accused of defamation, public disorder and damaging public property. Joseph, Radio Prévention’s owner, and François were ordered to appear in court after a formal petition signed by local public officials, among them the mayor, Justal Ronald, and members of civil society called on them to answer questions concerning information and opinions aired during their broadcasts. Two groups of sympathizers, one supporting the journalists and the other backing the mayor, clashed outside the courthouse and hurled stones against the building and a number of people were injured. Although the two journalists at the time of the incident were in their office an order was issued for their arrest. That same day, on the occasion of the launch of the daily newspaper Magic Haiti, President Martelly said, “I remain positive, I believe that we are facing an opportunity and those who do not agree, at least be quiet, that those who have already failed, that have exploited Haiti’s misery and weaknesses, let them be quiet and give an opportunity for the young professionals who come from abroad or those walking the streets in search of opportunities.” This was a reference to journalists that he regards as sensationalist. On July 28, agents of President Martelly’s security service lashed out at reporters covering his visit to the city of Jacmel as part of celebrations of Tourism Week in Haiti. Also in July, it was learned that a number of news media are on a list of entities that, it would appear, will be the subject of attention and surveillance by President Martelly’s Intelligence Service in the event that he achieves his plan to form a new Army. On October 3, President Martelly insulted and threatened journalist Germain Etienne from the Scoop FM radio station, who was interviewing him about the formation of the Judiciary Superior Council (CSPJ). Some days later Martelly said that he had no intention of excusing himself to the press. “”I do not like the way I was questioned and I responded, and that is all there is to it,” he declared in reply to a request by associations of media and journalists that he offer a public apology.

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