Haiti: urgent call for protection of press freedom

The ongoing crisis in Haiti remains a matter of concern for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which underlines the importance of the right to information in this context. With the support of more than 90 Haitian journalists, RSF launches an urgent appeal to the international community as well as to the new presidential transitional council to take immediate measures aimed at protecting journalists and media “so that the country does not become a information desert”.

On April 12, a collective of more than 90 Haitian journalists, mainly based in Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas, joined this call. These professionals, working for various national media and affiliated with the Association of Haitian Journalists (AJH), join their voices with those of RSF to draw attention to the seriousness of the situation of journalism in the country.

“It is difficult to imagine a more complex context for the exercise of journalism than the one we know today in Haiti. In addition to the historical challenges that the press faces in the country, we add the impact of insecurity which has reached an unprecedented level in recent months, with journalists attacked, kidnapped, prevented from traveling due to the actions of gangs, and finding themselves in a situation of widespread economic precariousness. Haiti’s information ecosystem is. in danger as a whole, even though information is a more essential resource than ever to report to the world what is happening in the country. Journalism must occupy a central place in discussions on ending the crisis and appear. in the international cooperation agenda,” said Artur Romeu, director of RSF’s Latin America desk.

Haitian journalists express their concern about the unprecedented crisis facing the profession in the country. They describe growing insecurity, making certain neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince inaccessible due to the control exercised by armed groups.

“We, Haitian journalists, live in daily fear of being attacked, of being kidnapped, of being murdered. Since 2022, at least six of our colleagues have been killed due to their professional activity. Others are attacked and injured, taken hostage, when they cover demonstrations in a context of regular armed conflicts between different gangs and the police. Abuses that we journalists suffer with absolute impunity, in the absence of the rule of law,” they declared.

Below is the entire letter signed by RSF and Haitian journalists

RSF calls for the protection of Haitian journalists: the right to information is a vital resource!

The world needs to know what is happening in Haiti. For this, Haiti needs independent, reliable, plural journalism, where information professionals can work in complete safety.

However, journalism in Haiti is in a critical state. If the challenges do not date from today, rarely in the recent history of our country have we been able to witness such a deterioration of working and living conditions.

We, Haitian journalists, live in daily fear of being attacked, of being kidnapped, of being murdered. Since 2022, at least six of our colleagues have been killed due to their professional activity. Others are attacked and injured, taken hostage, when they cover demonstrations in a context of regular armed conflicts between different gangs and the police. Abuses that we journalists suffer with absolute impunity, in the absence of the rule of law.

We, Haitian journalists, are warning of the fact that entire neighborhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince, have become inaccessible. These territories prohibited due to their control by armed groups are becoming more and more numerous.

We, journalists, also warn of the structural consequences of this context of generalized insecurity: the deterioration of infrastructure, the inaccessibility of training, the financial instability of editorial offices, the precariousness of the material conditions necessary for the work of journalists.

The safety conditions of our work have deteriorated so much that continuing our mission becomes an act of daily heroism. Faced with these significant risks, self-censorship, abandonment of the profession and exile are alternatives which increasingly present themselves as our only survival strategies.

In this multidimensional crisis which is affecting our country, journalism and the right to information are essential. This is why we appeal to the international community, cooperation agencies, international organizations and the Presidential Transitional Council, so that support for journalists and the media ecosystem takes a central place in the exit discussions. of crisis. The world needs to know what is happening in Haiti and Haiti needs journalism even more.

Signatories:

• Andre FRASME, Head of the editorial section of Television Nationale D’Haiti
• Angeline MICHEL
• Anicile MAÎTRE, Journalist at RadioMagik9
• Célou FLÉCHER, CEO/Editor-in-Chief at LE FACTEUR HAITI
• Césaire MICHELSON, Editor at Le Nouvelliste
• Corentin FOHLEN, Freelance photojournalist broadcast at Divergence
• Daniel SAINT HILAIRE,
• Danio DARIUS, Radio Magik9, The News Reporter
• Danise Davide LÉJUSTAL, Journalist at Radio Métronome / Correspondent of the newspaper Le Nouvelliste in Jacmel / President of the Cénacle des Journalistes du sud-est
• Denor SEVERE, Radio Minustah FM
• Eddy JAZIL, CEO Radio Super sonic and Journalist Radio Télé Métropole
• Emmanuel HUBERT
• Ésau CESAR, Radio Eclair
• Fabiola Carmel WELLINGTON, Dofen News Radio
• Fedner CONFIDENT, Journalist at National Television of Haiti
• Fegentz Canes PAUL, Radio Capital FM
• Félix VALERY, Correspondent at Le Nouvelliste
• François JEAN
• Frantz DUVAL, Editor-in-chief of the daily Le Nouvelliste and director of Ticket Magazine in Haiti / Director RadioMagik 9
• Gabrielle RENE
• Georges Emmanuel ALLEN, Haiti 24
• Georges Venel REMARAIS, Director General of Radio Solidarité and the Haitian Press Agency (AHP)/Pdt of the Association of Independent Media of Haiti (AMIH)
• Germina PIERRE LOUIS, Le Nouvelliste, RadioMagik9
• Gotson PIERRE, Director of the AlterPresse/AlterRadio platform
• Guerking SUFFERING, Passion Info Plus
• Warrior GOD, RadioTVCaraibes
• Guivintz MAXINEAU, Journalist, Director of Programming at Radio Fantastic FM 95.7
• Guyno DUVERNÉ, Radio Mega Correspondent
• Iheriston AUGUSTA
• Jacky MARC
• Jacques DESROSIERS, Secretary General of the Association of Haitian Journalists
• Jacques Stevenson SAINT-LOUIS, Educational Radio of the Ministry of National Education and Professional Training
• Jean Alexandro Richarson JOURDAN
• Jean Allens MACAJOUX, RTV Galaxie
• Jean Daniel SENAT, Journalist at Le Nouvelliste Haiti and RadioMagik 9
• Jean Fouchard DANGER, RTéléPacific
• Jean Gérard PIERRE, Editor at the Union newspaper
• Jean Israel VALESTIN, Radio Signal FM
• Jean Junior R. Celestin, editor of the daily Le Nouvelliste and presenter on Magik 9 radio
• Jean Michel CADET, Journal Le Matin
• Jean Pharès JÉRÔME, RSF Correspondent in Haiti
• Jean Philippe MACEANT, Journalist at Radio Méga
• Jean-Wickens MERONÉ
• Jeannot ANTOINE
• Jimmy MAXI, Director of Max News
• John-Becker JEAN, Radio Réfence FM/ Editor and reporter
• Jonas MONTES
• Jose Flécher, Le Nouvelliste
• Judex VELIMA, Radio TV Space
• Junior JORDANY VERDIEU, Correspondent at Le Nouvelliste
• Juno JEAN BAPTISTE, Port-au-Prince Post
• Kenly VILSAINT, National Television of Haiti
• Kensley Marcel
• Kervens Adam PAUL, Le Nouvelliste
• Kethia Marcellus
• Kettia JEAN PIERRE, Radio web Diaspora Inter
• Léonel DORCILIEN, Correspondent of Radio Télé Ginen in Cap-Haïtien
• Lionel ÉDOUARD, Journalist/Presenter at the National Television of Haiti
• Louinel JEAN LOUIS, Radio TV signal
• Lubrun GODSON, Journaliste HAITI Press Network
• Manuel YVES, News Director at Radio Télé Scoop
• Mapouse ANTOINE
• Marie André BELANGE, Radio Vision 2000
• Marie Chrisnette SAINT GEORGES, Weather presenter
• Marie Lucie BONHOMME, Journalist and co-founder of TELEPLURIEL / Presenter Radio Vision 2000
• Marie Michele MONTAS
• Marie Raphaëlle PIERRE, Radio Ibo
• Marie Smelck Fabienne VILTUD
• Martine ISAAC, Solidarity of Haitian Women Journalists (SOFEHJ)
• Michel JOSEPH, Radio Television Caribbean
• Milo MILFORT, Enquet’Action
• Nancy CONSTANT, Network of Women of Haitian Community Radios (REFRAKA)
• Noclès DEBREUS, Journalist, editorial secretary of the Journal Le National
• Peterson JEAN GILLES
• Pierre Lunick REVANGE, journalist at SIGNAL FM
• Robenson SANON, Journalist RadioMagik9
• Roberson ALPHONSE, Head of the national news section at the daily Le Nouvelliste /Director of information at RadioMagik 9
• Sabine JEAN, TNH
• Salomond Paul Ludjet FENELUS
• Sheilla Angélique LOUIS, Radio Métropole
• Sophia CHERY, International Union of the French-speaking Press
• Sylvestre Fils DORCILUS, Haiti Scopie
• Therno N. Alisthène SENELUS
• Théroné Jido
• Valéry DAUDIER, Le Nouvelliste
• Violine THELUSMA
• Wandy CHARLES, Communications Manager at the National Identification Office (ONI)
• Wilgins VALESCOT, CEO Reality info
• Yves Paul LEANDRE, Haiti Press Network (HPN)
• Yvon SEIDE, Radio Télé Signal

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February 15, 2024 02:21 PM