(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 August 2003, RSF expressed concern over the 27 August disappearance of radio reporter Peterson Milord and called on the government to thoroughly investigate the incident at once, in view of the current climate of impunity in the country. Milord was found on 29 August, naked and tied up in a sugar […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 August 2003, RSF expressed concern over the 27 August disappearance of radio reporter Peterson Milord and called on the government to thoroughly investigate the incident at once, in view of the current climate of impunity in the country. Milord was found on 29 August, naked and tied up in a sugar cane field by the Rouyonne river, near Léogane, 30 kilometres southwest of Port-au-Prince. He was reportedly unharmed.
The journalist, a correspondent for Radio Vision 2000 and Radio Passion in Léogane, disappeared on 27 August soon after an unfamiliar jeep was noticed near his home. He was seen once that day by friends but did not return home in the evening.
“Those who killed radio journalists Jean Dominique and Brignol Lindor are still walking free,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard in a letter to Haitian President Jean-Betrand Aristide, “and we fear other journalists will fall victim to such violence.” Ménard noted that despite promises made by Aristide on 17 December 2001, nothing had been done to protect journalists who receive threats.
On 23 August, Milord was roughly thrown out of Léogane’s Sainte Rose de Lima church while covering a mass attended by Aristide. He was expelled on the orders of the priest, Fritz Sauvaget, with the help of presidential security police. Sauvaget later accused the journalist of having issued false reports about him. This was denied by Radio Vision 2000 head Léopold Béranger. Marius Emmanuel, head of Radio Passion, said shots were fired outside the radio station the evening before Milord disappeared.
Over the past three years, close to 30 journalists have been forced to flee Haiti because of threats from supporters of President Aristide. Two journalists have been killed during this same period. President Aristide is included on RSF’s list of international press freedom predators.
