(RSF/IFEX) – On 5 May 2003, RSF expressed concern over the recent death threats against leading Haitian journalist Lilianne Pierre-Paul, Radio Kiskeya programming director and news anchor. A letter arrived at the radio station on 30 April containing a 12 mm cartridge and a written demand for Pierre-Paul to read a statement on the air, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 5 May 2003, RSF expressed concern over the recent death threats against leading Haitian journalist Lilianne Pierre-Paul, Radio Kiskeya programming director and news anchor.
A letter arrived at the radio station on 30 April containing a 12 mm cartridge and a written demand for Pierre-Paul to read a statement on the air, each day until 6 May, calling on France to pay Haiti an indemnity of US$21.7 billion. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide recently asked the French government to pay this sum to compensate for the 90 million francs indemnity it imposed on Haiti in 1838 in exchange for recognition of Haiti’s independence. The letter also threatened attacks against French nationals in Haiti.
“These threats to one of the most prominent figures in the privately-owned media are extremely serious, especially when one considers the general climate of impunity in the country,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “Since the threats appear to come from organisations considered close to the ruling Lavalas party, we will hold the authorities responsible should anything happen to Pierre-Paul,” Ménard added.
The letter received by Pierre-Paul bore the names of the grassroots organisations “Domi Nan Bwa”, “Cercueil”, “Bale Wouze”, “Boeuf”, “Pilate” and “Tête-ciel”. The first three groups are close to Fanmi Lavalas. “Domi Nan Bwa” claimed responsibility for the December 2001 murder of Echo 2000 radio station journalist Brignol Lindor in the southwestern town of Petit-Goâve (see IFEX alerts of 5 December, 25 and 16 September, 2 April and 15 January 2002, 11, 5 and 4 December 2001). Lindor was killed after opposition figures participated in a programme he hosted. RSF considers these groups that threaten journalists to be unofficial armed militias charged with targeting government critics and opponents.
Pierre-Paul previously received death threats in January 2001. Two pro-Aristide grassroots leaders, Paul Raymond and René Civil, had called for her execution because her name appeared on a list of what they claimed were members of a planned opposition-backed government. Radio Kiskeya itself has been threatened several times. The station was forced to suspend its broadcasts in September 2002 after it got word that unidentified persons intended to burn it down.
Over the past three years, close to 30 Haitian journalists have been forced into exile because of threats from supporters of President Aristide. Two journalists have been killed during this same period. Because of journalists’ precarious situation in Haiti, RSF has included President Aristide on its list of 42 international press freedom predators.
