Freedom of Expression
Press release R253/22
SRFOE condemns the murder of journalists Romelo
Vilsaint, Garry Tess and Fritz Dorilas, and the attack against journalist Roberson Alphonse in
Haiti, and calls on the State to clarify the facts
November 10, 2022
Washington D.C. -
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of
journalist Romelo Vilsaint; broadcaster Garry Tess; and journalist Fritz Dorilas. The Office of the Special Rapporteur
also condemns the attempted murder of journalist Roberson Alphonse, which occurred
on October 25 in the Haitian capital. The Rapporteurship urges the State authorities
to investigate, prosecute and punish these acts, considering journalistic work
as a possible motive for these crimes.
According to
public information, Romelo Vilsaint, a journalist with Jim Studio, Zenyèz
TV and Radio Génération 80, was shot in
the head by a tear gas canister on October 30. Public reports indicate that the
events took place when the police were trying to disperse a group of people demanding
the release of Robest Dimanche, a journalist with Radio Tele Zenith, who
had been arrested and taken to the Delmas police station in Port-au-Prince
while covering a protest.
Furthermore,
according to available information, on October 24, 2022, the body of journalist
Garry Tess was found dead in the district of Les Cayes, in the South Department
of Haiti. The reporter, who covered political and national current affairs as
announcer of the program "Gran Lakou" of
Radio Lébon FM, had been reported
missing since October 18. Information received by this Office indicates that
the broadcaster left his home on the above-mentioned date and has not returned
since.
The Office of the
Special Rapporteur was also informed of the murder of journalist Fritz
Dorilas, on November 5, 2022 in the Carradeux district, northeast of
Port-au-Prince. According to available information, Dorilas was reportedly
killed near his home during armed clashes between local gangs. As far
as this Office was able to learn, Dorilas was a broadcaster on Radio
Magaster, where he was also co-host of the Saturday program "Le droit, la
loi et la justice" (The rule of law, the legislation and justice).
This office also
received information on the attempted murder of Roberson Alphonse, a journalist
with Le Nouvelliste and Magik9 radio station, on October 25 in
Port-au-Prince, while he was on his way to the radio station where he works.
According to the information available, unidentified individuals shot at his
car, leaving at least a dozen bullet impacts in the vehicle and wounding the
journalist in both arms. According to the latest public reports from people
close to him, Roberson Alphonse was taken to a hospital in the capital, where
he was treated and is said to be in stable condition. According to available
information, the journalist covers political issues, citizen security and the
multidimensional crisis that Haiti is going through.
According to information
received by this Office, the local authorities announced the opening of investigations
to clarify the murder of Vilsaint and Tess, and assured
that instructions had already been given to determine the circumstances and
punish those possibly involved. From the executive branch, the Ministry of Culture and Communication noted that the murder of Tess and the attack against
Alphonse "aggravate the difficult situation of the media", and stated that "journalists
are essential actors of the rule of law". Additionally, the Office of Citizen Protection requested that the competent authorities guarantee
the protection of press workers. The Rapporteurship welcomes the fact that the
authorities publicly recognize the value and legitimacy of journalistic work,
even in times of crisis, and that they join the call to investigate, prosecute
and criminally punish those responsible for these crimes.
SRFOE notes with
extreme concern that so far in 2022 the murders of journalists in Haiti amount
to eight, taking into account the cases mentioned here, making this one of the
deadliest years for the press in the country, according to reports from this
Office. As SRFOE has already pointed out, crimes against journalists constitute
the most serious violation of the right to freedom of expression, in its social
and collective dimension, and cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.
Lethal violence against journalists not only restricts the right of society to
be informed, but also creates an atmosphere of intimidation and self-censorship
that, in the case of Haiti, can limit the democratic dialogue necessary to seek
solutions to social, economic, political and human rights problems.
In view of the
wave of violence against the press in Haiti, the Rapporteurship reiterates its
calls for the State to adopt measures of prevention and protection for
journalists so that they can exercise their work freely and safely. Likewise,
the Rapporteurship insists on the need for the State to act to address the
impunity that still prevails in attacks against the journalistic profession. As
this Office has pointed out in the past, the lack of forceful institutional
actions in the face of crimes against the press encourages the repetition of
violence and silencing. Finally, the Rapporteurship calls on the State and
the international community to support efforts to observe and consolidate
democratic institutions, the rule of law and compliance with human rights
obligations in the country.
The Office
of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is an office created by the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the hemispheric
defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its
fundamental role in the consolidation and development of the democratic system.
Access here the press release in French.
R253/22