Two years ago Apr. 3, paid assassins shot and killed prominent radio journalist Jean Dominique and his station's night watchman, Jean-Claude Louissaint.

Investigating Judge Claudy Gassant, whose mandate was pointedly not renewed by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in January, determined that high-placed figures in Aristide's Lavalas Family party (FL) may be involved in the murders (see Haïti Progrès, Vol. 19 No. 48, 2/13/02). Senator Dany Toussaint has been protected by the FL-dominated parliament's refusal to lift his immunity. The police have refused to carry out arrest warrants on other figures, who circulate openly.

On this second anniversary, numerous human rights groups, both in Haiti and abroad, have issued statements condemning the ruling party's stone-walling of the murder investigation. An international consortium (the Committee to Judge Duvalier, the Haiti Support Group, Human Rights Watch, the International Legal Resources Centre, Rights & Democracy, Trocaire, the Washington Office on Latin America, and the World Association on Christian Communication) issued a "Message of Solidarity with Haitian Organizations Working for Justice" in which it said that "[j]ustice for Jean Dominique means hope for all Haitians who live with the constant threat of violence and insecurity, a hope for respect for human rights and an end to impunity."

In Haiti, the anniversary will be marked by a nationwide mobilization of masses, marches, concerts, and other symbolic actions. The Carrefour Feuilles Cab Drivers Union will dangle a black ribbon with a picture of the slain journalist instead of the red one which usually adorns their rear-view mirrors. About 80 voudou priests in the south will hold a special ceremony. The Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation (Echo the Voice of Jean Dominique), the Haitian organization leading the campaign for justice in this case, will hold a benefit showing of Jonathon Demme's "The Agronomist," a film-in-progress about Dominique's life.

On Apr. 1, Michelle Montas, Dominique's widow, explained on the airwaves of Radio Haiti Inter that the many organizations working for justice in this case decided to "decentralize the mobilization around the country" this year. "While two years ago a large demonstration was possible, today these organizations say they fear provocation and have opted for dispersed demonstrations," she explained.

Of the many statements issued for this occasion, one of the most instructive is that of the Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation, which we have translated from French and reproduced below. 
 

Open Letter from the Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation 
to Prime Minister Yvon Neptune

On April 3, 2002, all those whom Haïti considers as militants for democracy and defenders of human rights and as its true friends in the world will mark the second anniversary of the assassination of Jean Dominique and Jean-Claude Louissaint. The commemoration of a loss is always filled with sadness, but this one will also be marked by deep feelings of disgust and anger in the face of this particularly revolting example of justice denied, in a country which unfortunately has so many such cases. 

Our dismay is all the greater since this grave insult to the Haitian people's demand for justice can be directly attributed to a political team who came to power precisely in the name of this demand. With some rare exceptions, the members of this team whom you direct along with President Aristide, through indifference or even actively, have increased the obstacles blocking the search for truth and justice in this murky affair.

Here you are today at the head of the Government of the Republic, after having chaired the Parliament for almost two years. We expect that in your new post, you will show more effectiveness and, above all, more commitment to the principles which you defended as a militant for democracy.

As you begin your mandate, we feel it necessary, without illusion but with determination, to stress to you your fundamental duties and your particular responsibilities with regard to the case of April 3, 2000.

You are the head of the government, and in this capacity the Constitution makes it your responsibility, jointly with the Head of State [President], to guarantee the correct functioning of national institutions, especially with regard to justice, public security and guaranteeing civil liberties. By the same token, you control, through your ministers, all the financial, material and human resources of the state. Thus, it is incumbent upon you to provide the judicial branch with the means necessary to accomplish its mission. Therefore you have the choice of respecting the judiciary's independence as stipulated by the Constitution or of transforming it into an evil mockery, as the executive branch has often done throughout our history. 

You head the High Council of the National Police (CSPN), and thus it is your duty to require the police force to fulfill its mission with effectiveness and impartiality. As we have done with the Head of State, we expressly demand that you see to it that the warrants issued months ago for the arrest of Richard Solomon and Frank Joseph are carried out, within the framework of the investigation of the double assassination of April 3, 2000. We are still shocked that wanted posters, with photographs of these fugitives from justice, are not posted in all police stations around the country and that there has been no call to the public, through the government's media outlets, to facilitate their arrest. By the same token, we consider it urgent that the results of the investigations into the suspicious deaths of Wilner Lalanne and Panel Rénélus, two key witnesses held by this police force which you now direct, be made public.

You are, Mr. Prime Minister, one of the key leaders of the Lavalas Family, the party which holds absolute control of the Parliament. Thus you must have the members of this party apply the same discipline for lifting the immunity from Parliamentarians implicated in criminal affairs as allowed your confirmation with exemplary speed and practically without debate.

There it is, Mr. Prime Minister, the essence of our demands. We formulate them, without illusion, but with a determination, which, we assure you, will know no respite. We are deeply convinced, in fact, that on the emblematic case of Jean Dominique and Jean-Claude Louissaint depends the very survival on this democracy, for which the Haitian people have paid so dearly and which finds itself today very endangered.

Patrick Elie 
for the Eko Vwa Jean Dominique Foundation