Congresswoman Waters demands the immediate and unconditional release of Father Jean-Juste from prison In Haiti

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) released a statement urging President Bush to take action to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste from prison in Haiti. The Congresswoman's statement follows:

I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste from prison in Haiti, and I urge President Bush to take action at once to secure his release.

Father Jean-Juste is a widely-respected Catholic priest and a courageous advocate for peace and justice. The injustice of his imprisonment is all the more severe as a result of his failing health.

On December 1, Fr. Jean-Juste received a medical exam by Dr. John Carroll, who reported that he has swollen lymph nodes in his neck and armpits and an elevated white blood count. This could indicate any of several serious conditions, including a blood cancer or an infectious disease. Many blood cancers have a good prognosis if they are treated early by specialists. It is therefore imperative that Fr. Jean-Juste be immediately released from prison so that he can receive medical treatment for his condition.

Father Jean-Juste's arrest is another example of the systematic repression of Haitians who are suspected of supporting the Lavalas party. Father Jean-Juste joins numerous Lavalas leaders in Haiti's overcrowded prisons, including Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, former Interior Minister Jocelerme Privert, and Haitian singer Anne Auguste. There are an estimated 700 political prisoners in Haiti, and many of them are Lavalas members who have been detained for months without formal charges. All of these political prisoners should be set free.

It is critical that President Bush take action without delay to obtain Fr. Jean-Juste's release from prison so that he can receive the medical care he so desperately needs. Our government's action could save the life of this gentle priest.

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