Three Lavalas political prisoners finally released in Haiti

The three recently released Lavalas political prisoners denounce the illegal nature of their arrests and the utilization of this approach to neutralize Lavalas

Port-au-Prince, December 27, 2004 (AHP)- The three Lavalas political prisoners who were released on Thursday December 23 following intense pressure exerted on the interim authorities have denounced the illegal nature of their arrests.

Rudy Hérivaux and Yvon Feuillé were arrested without a warrant inside the studios of Radio Cara*bes immediately following their participation in a political broadcast.

Activist Lesly Gustave, one of the leaders of the Saint-Jean Bosco base Catholic communities (TKL), was taken into custody under similar circumstances where he worked at the Toussaint Louverture Airport in Port-au-Prince.

Arrested, he said, because he dared to speak openly of his support for the Fanmi Lavalas Party, former Deputy Hérivaux declared that the political persecution will never force him to renounce his beliefs.

"I remain closely attached to Fanmi Lavalas and to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who has always stood for the underprivileged among the population", said Rudy Hérivaux, who also stated that he feels no hatred nor desire for vengeance toward those who have harmed him.

At the same time he spoke in favor of a sincere national dialogue to usher Haiti out of the crisis.

Mr. Hérivaux also criticized the interim government, which thinks, he said, that it can neutralize Fanmi Lavalas by imprisoning or hunting down its leaders and activists.

This behavior by the transition government is a sign of its fear of Lavalas, which represents the country's largest political power, he said.

"If the current government believes it can sideline Lavalas, it is misguided" said Rudy Hérivaux . he called for the release of all the other political prisoners.

The President of the Haitian Senate, Yvon Feuillé, also advocated peace and reconciliation.

He called upon the government to stop the political persecution, noting that he took provisional President Boniface Alexandre at his word when he announced that a pact will be signed in January known as the three Rs (Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Renewal).

Yvon Feuillé also denounced abuses and massacres suffered by residents of the populist districts.

St-Jean Bosco TKL leader Lesly Gustave advocated harmony among all Haitians.

Denouncing the illegal and arbitrary nature of his imprisonment, he urged the interim authorities to release all the other political prisoners.

AHP December 27, 2004 11:10 AM