Media Freedoms Threatened in Haiti

London - 8 August 2005

The London-based solidarity organisation, the Haiti Support Group (HSG), is very concerned about the 20 July communique issued by the interim government council of ministers in which a number of ministries were instructed to take "appropriate measures against all media or journalists promoting a discourse of hatred and interviewing bandits."

While on face value, any government has the right to intervene to protect the lives of citizens and to ensure the rule of law, there are already existing measures by which alleged criminals can be detained and judged. Alleged criminals should not be prejudged, nor should the media and journalists be punished for doing their job. The HSG is concerned that, in the current context in Haiti, the communique could easily be used to curtail freedom of speech, and to repress certain political entities. The HSG fears that the instruction will result in the censorship (or self-censorship) of the output of a number of radio stations, and, in the worst case scenario, put the lives of journalists at further risk

The HSG notes that the head of the Haitian Journalists' Association, Joseph Guyler C. Delva, has denounced the communique, saying it represents a serious threat to media freedom in Haiti, and is a clear demonstration of the current regime's willingness to presecute media which do not share its point of view.

The Haiti Support Group has worked in support of the free exchange of ideas and information in Haiti for over a decade, and is concerned that hard won freedoms are being rapidly eroded.

http://www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org