IAPA Investigation of Haitian Journalist Murder Released on the Internet
IAPA Investigation of Haitian Journalist Murder Released on the Internet
Miami (March 14, 2001) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today released a report on its investigation of the murder of Haitis prominent radio journalist, Jean Leopold Dominique. Dominique, slain April 3, 2000, was the victim of an apparent internecine conflict involving different groups of the Lavalas political party of newly elected President Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Dominique, 69, owned Radio Haiti, a progressive radio station in Port-au-Prince.
Dominique was the most senior member of the Lavalas party killed to date. He thought his party credentials would be enoughto protect him from the forces that ultimately had him killed. The IAPA believes the Dominique case is emblematic of a Haiti in which groups tied to the ruling Lavalas party have recently threatened journalists and challenged the opposition.
The IAPA report spotlights a number of irregularities in the official investigation, threats directed at judges and witnesses and the impunity that surrounds this crime.
IAPA President Danilo Arbilla, editor of the weekly, Búsqueda, of Montevideo, Uruguay, said the press group will continue to keep close taps on this case and press freedom generally in Haiti.He said the matter will be discussed at the IAPA midyear meeting scheduled for March 17 in Fortaleza, Brazil.
For more information regarding this case, please visit the special IAPA web page devoted to unpunished crimes against journalists, www.impunidad.com
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