Monday, Senator Dieuseul Simon Desras, President of the Senate, urged the Government to release protesters arrested during the demonstration on 17 and 26 October, protesters that he described as political prisoners without distinction...

For the Senator Desras,the arrest Sunday at the anti-government protest of two activists of the "Patriotic Force for the Respect of the Constitution" (FOPARC), Rony Timothée and Biron Odigé https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12374-haiti-politic-two-members-of-foparc-arrested.html is a form of intimidation and political repression to weaken the anti-government mobilization. While acknowledging that there is perhaps warrants issued against the two activists, he wondered on the moment of their arrests, in full manifestation... He was convinced that the Executive wants to to shelve the constitutional guarantees of the right to demonstrate and prevents the head of state that it may pay a lot the consequences, because if the government does not respect the Constitution, why the opposition should respect it ?

For their part, the Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations (POHDH) and the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), recall that the Freedom of Association and Assembly unarmed for peaceful purposes are guaranteed by the Constitution in force, in Articles 28 and 31. In fact, these items respectively stipulate that "Every Haitian has the right to express his opinions freely on any matter by any means he chooses" and that "the Freedom of Association and Assembly unarmed for political purposes, economic, social, cultural or any other peaceful purposes is guaranteed."

POHDH and RNDDH point out at the attention of all that "the arrests of protesters and political activists for their opinions and political positions are a serious threat to civil liberties and are inconsistent with the rule of law advocated by the government. It is the same case of police brutality and use of justice for political purposes that are not likely to create a climate conducive to genuine political negotiations necessary for an out of crisis negotiated, of the worrying current political situation concern."

That is why, these two organizations are calling for the release of political prisoners and protesters illegally arrested and invite the general public and the democratic sector in particular, to be more vigilant in defending the democratic gains secured by the Haitian Constitution and republican Laws.

Recall that during the demonstration on October 17 in Port-au-Prince https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12310-haiti-politic-anti-government-demonstration-dispersed-by-security-forces.html , 18 people were arrested : Renaud Jean-Jacques, Jean Louinel Merisier, Jeff Clergé, Midlin Chervin; Jonès Sampeur, Fritzner Montina, Hérard Ceradieu, Roody Moïse, Ralph Désilus, Ismehomme Lormicile, Rodelin Saint-Gourdain, Louivens Loredan, Altès Charles, Vladimir Jean-Pierre, Jean Harry Delassin, Lorvenson Merisier, Joanel Paul and Angello Laguerre (Source RNDDH)

During the demonstrations of October 26 were arrested in Petionville : Rony Timothée and Biron Odigé and the same day in the event which was held in Les Cayes : Maxon Luxamar, Frantzou Dieu and Pétuel Mentor (Source RNDDH).

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre