4 February 2002

Alert

Senate refuses to lift Dany Toussaint's parliamentary immunity


Incident details

Jean Dominique

journalist(s)

killed

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(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Senate Speaker Yvon Neptune, RSF denounced the Senate Commission's refusal to lift Dany Toussaint's parliamentary immunity. The commission's decision was announced on 31 January 2002. Tousssaint is the number one suspect in the assassination of journalist Jean Dominique. "This decision testifies, yet again, to the government's determined resolve to ensure that light is not shed on the death of Radio Haïti Inter's director," stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "Following the non-renewal of investigating Judge [Claudy] Gassant's mandate, this latest decision proves that the farce continues," he added. "The Senate is merely protecting one of its own, a true baron of the regime, and demonstrating its contempt for the most basic justice," Ménard concluded.


According to information collected by RSF, the Senate commission responsible for examining the request for the lifting of Senator Toussaint's immunity refused to reach a decision. Stating that it was lacking information, it asked the investigative judges for further information on the case. Judge Gassant had issued the request for the lifting of the senator's immunity when he was in charge of the investigation. The six-senator commission has been studying the request since August 2001.

RSF recalls that through a presidential decision, Judge Gassant, whose mandate expired on 4 January, was replaced by Judges Josua Agnant, Bertrand Sainvil and Joachim Saint-Clair on 23 January. The progress of Judge Gassant's investigation was constantly obstructed by the authorities, Haitian police and Senator Toussaint's entourage. The judge wanted to call Toussaint as a witness in the case.

Dominique, who was well-known for his independent stance, was gunned down in the courtyard of his radio station, Radio Haiti Inter, on 3 April 2000. Targets of his criticism had included former Duvalierists, soldiers and the country's powerful families. Shortly before he died, he also criticised those he suspected within President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's party of seeking to "divert the movement from its principles."




Source:

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
@rsf_rwb
 

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More on this case

Jean Dominique case: RSF, the Haitian Journalists' Association and the Damocles Network call for the case of murdered journalist to be transferred to another judge 28 June 2002 RSF and the Damocles Network urge President Aristide to give assurances to Judge Gassant and express hope that he will resume work on the Jean Dominique murder case 22 April 2002 Impunity continues two years after journalist Jean Dominique's murder 2 April 2002 Judge's mandate not renewed in Jean Dominique murder case 25 January 2002 RSF calls for sanctions against twenty-four Haitian officials 15 January 2002 New act of intimidation against examining judge in Jean Dominique case 4 January 2002 Assassination of journalist Jean Dominique: RSF urges parliamentary commission to decide in favour of lifting Dany Toussaint's parliamentary immunity 3 December 2001 Death of a second suspect in custody raises doubts as to the authorities' willingness to shed light on Radio Haïti Inter director's murder 15 November 2001 RSF and the International Alliance for Justice for Jean Dominique express concern that the Senate has yet to vote on lifting Dany Toussaint's parliamentary immunity 14 November 2001 RSF once again concerned by impunity in assassinated journalist Jean Dominique?s case 5 October 2001 RSF urges Senate to lift parliamentary immunity of senator implicated in journalist Jean Dominique's murder 14 August 2001 RSF hopes that the judge in charge of the inquiry into journalist Jean Dominique's assassination will return to the case 20 June 2001 New threats to inquiry into assassination of journalist Jean Dominique 14 June 2001 IAPA seeks protection for judge in case of murdered journalist 18 May 2001 Investigation into assassination of journalist Jean Dominique impeded again 11 May 2001 RSF releases report on the investigation into journalist Jean Dominique's murder 3 April 2001 IAPA publishes Internet report on investigation into journalist's murder 16 March 2001 AMARC condemns assassination of celebrated radio journalist 18 April 2000 RSF denounces threats against private radio station 7 April 2000 CPJ expresses sadness over journalist's assassination 5 April 2000 RSF condemns assassination of radio director 4 April 2000

Haiti

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