April 25, 2006
Half-Hour For Haiti: Bob Moliere is Free, Make So Ann Next

Update: Bob Molière is out!  The Investigating Magistrate publicly recognized what Mr. Molière and his supporters have been saying all along: there never was any evidence that Bob was involved in criminal activity. So after 1 year and 2 days in prison, he was released on April 20, and reunited with his family (a family that grew in his absence- Bob is pictured at left with his son, born while he was in prison). Click Here for more analysis and photos on Bob’s release.

Thank you to everyone who sent financial support for IJDH/BAI’s work, as well as everyone who offered to pitch in with their time and expertise.

Four political prisoners targeted by our actions have been released in the last ten days. A few Half-Hour members have suggested we thank the responsible officials. That’s a great idea, an address for thank-you letters is at the end of the alert.

New Human Rights Report: The Center for International Legal Education at the University of Pittsburgh Law Schoolhas issued a new report, The Independence of the Judiciary in Haiti under the Interim Government , which analyzes the Interim Governments’ systematic abuse of the justice system.

This week’s action:  Let’s make Annette Auguste, “So Ann” the next prisoner freed. She will have been in prison 2 years on May 10th, despite the fact that the government has presented no evidence of any criminal activity. As last week’s alert reported, the judge ordered Ms. Auguste to stand trial, despite the lack of evidence and the prosecutor’s recommendation to drop the case (see Analysis of Judicial Order). Her lawyer, Mario Joseph of the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, appealed the order. This morning he wrote a letter to the Appeals Court Prosecutor (Commissaire du Gouvernment), who is in charge of scheduling appeals, to urge that Ms. Auguste’s appeal be heard in a timely fashion.

  
Me. Raphaël JEAN BAPTISTE, Avocat
Commissaire du Gouvernement
Près la Cour d’Appel de Port-au-Prince

Dear Commissaire Jean-Baptiste,
I am writing to urge you to ensure that justice is done in the appeal of political prisoner Annette Auguste. As you know, Ms. Auguste was arrested illegally on May 10, 2004, and has spent two years in prison, in violation of Haiti judicial procedures. There is also no factual justification for her imprisonment-- your colleague, Commissaire Fredd’Herck, concluded that “the pre-trial investigation was not able to establish a single fact, a single indication, a single presumption of Ms. Annette Auguste’s implication in said events.”  
I am requesting you to do two things to ensure that justice is done in this case. First, I ask that you ensure that Ms. Auguste’s right to a speedy appeal is respected, and that the matter be decided by the end of the month of April. Second, I request that your recommendation to the Appeals Court Judges at the hearing includes Commissaire Fredd’Herck’s finding that there is no evidence against Ms. Auguste.
            Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request, and for your efforts to ensure that justice is done in Annette Auguste’s case.

Me. Raphaël JEAN BAPTISTE, Avocat
Commissaire du Gouvernement
Près la Cour d’Appel de Port-au-Prince
Cher Commissaire Jean-Baptiste,
Je vous écris pour vous demander de faire tout ce qui est en votre pouvoir afin que justice soit faite quant à l’appel de la prisonnière politique Annette Auguste. Comme vous le savez, Mme Auguste a été arrêtée le 10 mai 2004, et a donc passé deux ans en prison, à l’encontre des procédures judiciaires d’Haïti. Il n’existe aucune justification factuelle pour son emprisonnement – votre collègue, Commissaire Fredd’Herck, a conclu que « l’instruction n’a pu établir aucun fait, aucun indice, aucune présomption d’implication de la dame Annette Auguste dans de tels événements. »

Ma requête à votre endroit a donc deux volets : En premier lieu, je vous demande de vous assurer que le droit de Mme Auguste à un appel soit immédiatement respecté, et que le verdict soit décidé avant la fin du mois d’avril. En second lieu, je vous demande d’inclure, dans cotre recommandation aux Juges de la Cour d’Appel, le rapport de Commissaire Fredd’Herck comme quoi il n’existe aucun indice contre Mme Auguste.
Je vous remercie à l’avance d’avoir considéré cette requête, et pour vos efforts afin que justice soit faite dans le dossier d’Annette Auguste.
Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Commissaire, l’expression de mes sentiments les plus distingués.
_______________________________________________
Thank you letters, for the release of Bob Moliere, Mario Exilhomme, Harold Severe and Jacques Anthony Nazaire should go to:

Me. Leny Fredd’Herck
Commissaire du Gouvernement
Ministère de la Justice
18 Avenue Charles Sumner
Port-au-Prince, Haïti

They can also be faxed or emailed to the same number as the letter to Me. Jean-Baptiste.
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For more information about the Half-Hour For Haiti Program, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti or human rights in Haiti, see www.ijdh.org. To sign up for the weekly Action Alert, send an email to HalfHour4Haiti@ijdh.org.