Amnesty Int'l- Journalist, Guyler Delva's life is threatened in Haiti

Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action Alert regarding the journalist Joseph Guyler Delva, who reports from Haiti. Delva has received threats on his life that he "believes to be related to both his involvement in an investigation into the murder of Haitian journalist Jean Dominique and his reporting on the controversial election of a former Haitian senator. Amnesty International is extremely concerned for his safety."

Chers amis,

Veuillez trouver ci-joint la dernière action urgente en faveur de Joseph Guyler Delva, journaliste haïtien et défenseur de la liberté de la presse.

Guyler a reçu des sérieuses menaces de mort et il a été recemment condamné à un mois de prison pour "diffamation" mettant en danger le droit à la liberté d'expression en Haïti et la liberté de la presse.

Veuillez faire circuler cette action à tous vos contacts. Une version en Français sera bientôt disponible sur notre site web www.amnesty.org/fr/region/haïti.

Merci beaucoup.


Dear Friends,

Please find enclosed the lates urgent action on behalf of Guyler Delva., a Haitian journalist and defender of press freedom and journalists' rights.

He has received serious death threats and has recently been sentenced to one month imprisonment for "defamation". We believe that this is a serious hindrance to press freedom and freedom of expression.

Please join us in urging the Haitian authorities to ensure Guyler's safety.

Many thanks.



BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Defamation is a criminal offence in Haiti. International human rights organizations, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, have repeatedly called for defamation legislation to be reformed in order to make it a civil offence.

The CIAPEAJ was created in August 2007 to monitor investigations into the murders of nine journalists since 2000: Jean Léopold Dominique, Gérard Denoze, Brignol Lindor, Ricardo Ortega, Abdias Jean, Robenson Laraque, Jacques Roche, Jean-Rémy Badiau and Alix Joseph. With the exception of the case of Jacques Roche and Brignol Lindor, the other cases remain shrouded in impunity.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in French or your own language:

• calling on the authorities to take action, in accordance with his own wishes, to ensure the safety of Joseph Guyler Delva;


• calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the threats received by Joseph Guyler Delva, with those responsible brought to justice;


• expressing concern that Joseph Guyler Delva has been sentenced to prison terms solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression, and requesting all proceedings be conducted in strict accordance with international fair trial standards.

APPEALS TO:

President
S.E. René García Préval
Président de la République d’Haïti,
Palais National, Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince, HAITI (W.I)
Fax: +509 2228 2244
Salutation: Monsieur le Président/Dear President Préval

Minister of Justice and Public Security
Monsieur Jean Joseph Exumé
Ministre de la Justice et de la Sécurité Publique
19 Avenue Charles Sumner, Port-au-Prince, HAITI (W.I.)
Fax: +509 2245 0474 (Request the fax line : La ligne de fax s’il-vous-plaît)
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre/Dear Minister

General Director of the Haitian National Police
Monsieur Mario Andresol
Directeur Général de la Police Nationale d'Haïti
Grand Quartier Général de la Police
12 rue Oscar Pacot, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (W.I.)
Fax: +509 2245 7374
Salutation: Monsieur le Directeur Général/Dear Mr Andresol

COPIES TO:
SOS Journalistes
76 Route du Canapé Vert (en face de l’hôpital)
Port-au-Prince
Haïti
Email: sosjournalisteshaiti@hotmail.com

and to diplomatic representatives of Haiti accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 29 January 2009.

For more info visit Amnesty International