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Haitian journalists risk death to get all sides of the story
By DAVID ADAMS, Times Latin America Correspondent PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Ernst Occean, 34, is typical of the crop of young Haitian journalists who came of age just as democracy was born in their country. But 10 years later Occean is considering looking for a safer profession. "How can we continue to work if no one guarantees our security?" he asked during an interview in the capital where he is in hiding. As many as 20 Haitian journalists have fled the country or gone into hiding in recent weeks after a spate of ugly attacks by pro-government mobs. One radio journalist, Brignol Lindor, was hacked to death in the town of Petit-Goave last month after he broadcast interviews with local opposition politicians. Local and international media groups have called on the government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide to instruct local police and judicial authorities to protect the civil rights of journalists in Haiti. In a meeting earlier this month with local press representatives, Aristide gave a personal pledge to uphold free expression, but local journalists are increasingly doubtful of his words. "Not for the first time he offered us guarantees, but what we need are concrete actions that the threats and actions against us are stopped," said Guyler Delva, 35, secretary-general of the Association of Haitian Journalists. Delva was the target of death threats this month for his role in an international campaign for justice in the case of assassinated radio station owner Jean Dominique, Haiti's most prominent journalist, who was gunned down in April 2000. Occean has not been able to return to his hometown of St. Marc after he was targeted in late November by leaders of a pro-Aristide group calling itself "Sweep and Clean." Occean's car tires were slashed after the leader of Sweep and Clean pointed a gun at him in the street outside his house. That followed his reporting on a demonstration by opposition groups in St. Marc. Two people were killed after officials of the ruling Lavalas Family party, including the town's mayor, fired on the protesters with Uzi submachineguns. Friends advised Occean to flee the next day after authorities came looking for him. He left his wife and 4-year-old son in the care of his parents. "If no action is taken by the authorities to stop these sorts of attacks I will have to assume there's a war against the press," Delva said. "These are people connected to power. If they are not stopped, then we must assume the government supports them."
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
