Former Haitian Prime Minister imprisoned by US sponsored de facto Regime

In-depth Report:

The Kreyol original of this letter from PM Yvon Neptune was translated into English by the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network (See HLLN note below)

Updated report from family and friends who have visited former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in the so-called Villa Annex of the National Penitentiary

It will soon be 2 months since former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune again took up a hunger strike to urge the defacto government to relinquish its stranglehold on his life and his freedom, and also to urge the United Nations forces in the country to guarantee his safety.

The Haitian people and the whole world will remember that the United Nations forces with the authorization of the defacto government had decided to transport former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune out of the country because his hunger strike where he stopped taking food or water had threatened to stop the functioning of his kidneys which would have caused his death. Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune was well aware of this but at the same time he understood clearly that this was a ploy to exile him. This is why he turned down this seemingly humanitarian gesture until the defacto power would agree to grant him his freedom and the UN forces would protect his life and adequately provide for his safety.

The Haitian people and the whole world know how much satisfaction former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune’s death would bring to certain sectors of the so-called civil society and some of the politicians. We all remember the rumors they spread and the scandal they made around his hunger strike and the danger to his life.

At the same time he refused this humanitarian exile trap is when he agreed to begin drinking water and taking medication on the recommendation of a host of doctors including the head doctor of the country’s prison system who visited him at the Villa Annex of the National Penitentiary where he has been sleeping on the floor.

Since then, as he presses ahead with the hunger strike, former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune’s physical condition continues to deteriorate. Some days are very bad while other days are not so bad. Throughout this ordeal his mental capacity has remained strong and clear.

Many representatives of foreign countries and the international community have visited former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in the prison cell where the defacto power has had him locked up without cause for close to a year now. Among these visitors have been representatives of the American Government, the Canadian Government, the Organization of American States (OAS), the UN, Caricom, the African Union, etc.

The Haitian people and the whole world remember under what brutal conditions the thugs of the National Penitentiary dragged former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune from his cell to bring him to St. Marc on April 22nd 2005. This was done despite the fact that former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune was on the 5th day of a renewed hunger strike without food or water to continue to exact his liberation.

The Haitian people and the entire world cannot forget that on that day the judge conducting the inquiry, Judge Cluny Pierre Jules, did not even come to court because it was later reported that she had not even been informed by the defacto power that former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune would be brought there.

Some time after this violent incident, on May 15th, former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune was visited by the American Congressman Kendrick Meek. On that same day he was visited by former American Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young who was accompanied by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes, American Ambassador to Haiti, James B. Foley, and Mr. Thierry Fagart, head of the human rights division of the UN mission.

After all of these visits and the conversations and public statements of the representatives of these foreign powers, it became evident to former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune that despite all statements to the contrary total control over his life, his freedom and his safety was in the hands of the defacto power. The defacto power has been clamoring all along that it had nothing to do with the politically vindictive justice apparatus set up by this power after President Aristide was forced out of the country.

It is in this context and with the guarantee of being accompanied by special MINUSTHA security forces that former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune found himself in the cabinet of Judge Cluny Pierre-Jules in St. Marc on May 25, 2005. On that day there was no “renewed confidence” in the “justice” of the defacto power by former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune. Rather it was an occasion for him to once again affirm, with all his might, his confidence in the law, in the process set forth in the constitution, and in the conscience of people who believe in true justice and persist in seeking out truth wherever it may be.

The information contained in this report is truthful and former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune has endorsed it on June 10, 2005.

Yvon Neptune Former Prime Minister Member of Fanmi Lavalas Political Prisoner

Villa Annex of the National Penitentiary, Pacot

Note:

Prime Minister Yvon Neptune is critically ill but continues the hunger strike protesting his illegal incarceration. He specifically requested that HLLN translate this report from his Family and Friends from the Kreyol into English and release it to the international community and our peace and justice network.

Since this June 10, 2005 letter, endorsed by Yvon Neptune, and transcribed on his behalf by Family and Friends, the judge in charge of the case, dismissed the charges and ordered PM Yvon Neptune’s release.

According to Ronald St-Jean, an order of dismissal of charges was given for by the magistrate in charge of the case, Clunie Pierre Jules. (See, AHP June 21, 2005 report at: Neptune Updates – http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/updatenept.html

This release order, according to Ronald St. Jean occurred the very day Gousse announced his resignation. However, it’s been weeks since this ordered release and PM Yvon Neptune continues to be incarcerated, giving credence to the often heard accusation that the defacto government and its international supporters do not intend to release any of the political prisoners until after their proposed elections (Selections) in Haiti.

The only public statement since the judge Clunie Pierre Jules ordered the case dismissed against Yvon Neptune has been by U.N. special representative, Juan Gabriel Valdes asking for the release but making NO mention that the judge in charge had look at the government’s evidence and ordered the case dismissed. (See, Reuters June 23, 2005 article on our website at: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/updatenept.html ) . There are reports that the U.S.-backed Latortue government is interfering with this judicial order and delaying further by demanding that presiding Judge Clune Pierre Jules reconsider his decision.

With MINUSTHA taking over PNH functions, one wonders at the fate of the political prisoners in Haiti. For, PM Yvon Neptune as for the thousands of others illegally being held by Haitian police and authorities in prison, nothing has changed. The atrocities continues that were legitimized when the UN chose to side with thugs, killers and an unconstitutionally imposed government rather than support democratic principles, the Constitutional government and the people of Haiti asking for the return of their ousted President.

Help save Yvon Neptune’s life. Ask that the administrative judge’s order be upheld, that there are no more delays and that PM Neptune be immediately released. Please call, e-mail and fax letters to the officials listed (Contact information) below. Thank You.

June 29, 2005 Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Please call, e-mail and fax letters the officials listed below.

FOR U.N. TROOPS IN HAITI:

UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) PHONE: 011.509.244.9650.9660 FAX: 011.509.244.9366/67 Or, Office of General Secretary (New York) – 212.963.4879 Fax | phone 212-963-5012 | Email: [email protected] & [email protected]

Juan Gabriel Valdes Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Haiti 011-509-244-9650 or 9660 fax 011-509 244 3512.

Lt. General Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira UN Military Commander in Haiti: 011-509-554-8074 [email protected]

Damian Onses-Cardona Spokesperson for Gen. Pereira 011-509-557-5118 (cell) 011-509-510-2563, ext. 6303.

Touissant Congo-Doudou Head of Communications MINUSTAH: 011-509-557-5906 [email protected]

David Beer Commissioner of CIVPOL the UN Civilian Police in Haiti 011-509-525-5279 [email protected] fax: 011-509-244-9366.

U.S. Ambassador to Haiti: James B. Foley

Fax to: U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince – 011-509-223-9038 or 011-509-223-1641 State Department Haiti Desk, Washington – 202 -647-2901

Call: U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince – 011-509-223-4711 Anthony Beaver/John Mariz, State Department Haiti Desk – 202- 647-5088

Email: [email protected] (Roger Noriega Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; [email protected] (Dana Banks, Human Rights Officer, U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince)

Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, Claude Boucher Embassy of Canada Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Telephone: (509) 249-9000 Fax: (509) 249-9920 Email: [email protected]

Ambassador of France in Haiti, M. Yves GAUDEUL Embassy of France 51 place des Hèros de l’Independance – BP 312 Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Telephone: (509) 222-0952 Fax : (509) 223 5675

Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers’ Leadership Network

“Men anpil chay pa lou” is Kreyol for – “Many hands make light a heavy load.”

Join our International Solidarity – THE FREE HAITI MOVEMENT.
For info, see: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/photogallery/haitisolidarityday.html

 and, http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/infoforsponsors.html

Help stop the slaughter in Cite Soleil, Bel Air and throughout Haiti, now. Learn more: “Bandit King in Cite Soleil” http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/interviewdread.html

There’s no time to waste. All the nationalities are down there in Haiti, in the form of UN troops, quietly liquidating young Black brothers who will not accept the recolonization of Haiti and return of the bloody Haitian bourgeiosie and army back to power.

Even after death, our indignities and sufferings don’t stop, because their families can’t afford to bury them and their bodies are just dumped in mass graves, left to rot in the streets or morgue: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/pictures/orel_01.html

Keep up to date with Ezili Danto Witness Project that publishes the voices and pictures from the streets of Haiti of this hidden genocide:

http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/testimonies/personaltestimonies.html

http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/pictures/hsd_pictures.html

1. Carnage and chaos brought to Haiti by the U.S. “technocrats” and Bush regime change: See, the incinerated cadaver of a Haitian marketwoman with her arms still wrapped-up around her tiny incinerated child from the May 31, 2005 firebombing at the Ox head market http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/pictures/fire_tetbef_07.html

2. See, incinerated cadavers of marketwomen in Haiti: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/pictures/fire_tetbef_03.html

3. Funeral pictures for Sanel Joseph on our website: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/solidarityday/pictures/sanel_funeral_01.html

4. Sanel Joseph was killed on flag day, May 18, 2005: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/flagdaymay18-05_killings.html

Here is what you can do to help us help the people of Haiti: Action Requested from Haiti solidarity groups and activists for justice and democracy

Please circulate our mailings and posts to your mailing list and e-mail contacts. Subscribe or unsubscribe by writing to: [email protected] ;

Read, adopt and circulate the Haiti Resolution (see below) from the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network.

Circulate our human rights reports:
 http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/human_rights_reports/c1humanrightsreports.html

Do Press Work: Join our letter writing campaigns to help free the political prisoners in Haiti, stop the persecution of Haiti’s most popular political party and restore Constitutional rule. Write a letter, call the media, fax, – See our Press Work page for sample letters and contact information: http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaignone/presswork/pressreleases_hll.html


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