AHP News - August 9, 2005 - English translation (Unofficial)  

 

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The head of MINUSTAH urges the release of former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune; The interim Justice Minister calls for the release of detainees in cases where the officials in charge of the investigations are incapable of moving forward  
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Port-au-Prince, August 9, 2005 (AHP)- The Special Representative of the United Nations in Haiti, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdès, declared Tuesday that he does not understand why the interim authorities continue to hold former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in prison.  

Yvon Neptune was incarcerated more than a year ago based on accusations that he was responsible for an alleged massacre in the hamlet of La Scierie in Saint-Marc, after NCHR/Haiti, an organization reputed to be close to the former opposition to Mr. Neptune's government, made allegations against him. 

Mr. Valdès said he understands the need for the Haitian justice system to do its work but finds it improper that Mr. Neptune has been detained for such a long period of time.  

"If no charges have been filed against the former prime minister, he should be released", said the head of MINUSTAH.

Juan Gabriel Valdès said he has already met with the interim authorities on the question of prolonged detention.  

For his part, the interim Minister of Justice, Henri Dorléans, announced that he has set up a commission of inquiry to move forward the cases of prisoners in prolonged detention, notably the case of Yvon Neptune.  

Mr. Dorléans said he has already met with the judicial authorities who have jurisdiction over Saint-Marc in order that all the appropriate information about this case may come to light and a ruling be issued.  

"If we can not move forward with the investigations of the people who are in detention, let them be released", said Mr. Dorléans, criticizing certain judges whom he did not name, saying that they used their authority to carry out injustice. 
 
He also promised to denounce all who are guilty in this matter.  

A senior paramilitary organization leader, Louis Jodel Chamblain, sentenced in absentia for abuses committed during the period of the 1991 coup d'état, was released from detention last week.  

Mr. Chamblain turned himself in to judicial authorities in April 2004 after having actively taken part in the armed rebellion against President Aristide.