The Minister of the Interior, Thierry Mayard-Paul, reiterated the government’s firm commitment to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the attack of Journalist Phebe Wendy.
SOS Journalists, a Haitian press freedom organization announced in Le Nouvelliste that it had partnered with national and international press freedom organizations to publish a list of Haitian politicians considered to be enemies and predators of journalists and press freedom.
SOS Journalist Secretary General, Joseph Guyler Delva named Interior Minister Thierry Mayard-Paul, the Mayor of Thomonde, Souverne Jean Delva and Deputy Marie Denise Bernadeau (Thomonde/Lavni) as government officials complicit in the attack of Phebe Wendy.
The Ministry of the Interior responded to the accusations saying the attack was committed by security officials at the mayor’s office in Thomonde. The ministry added that the matter is in the hands of justice officials to judge and discipline as it finds appropriate.
Guyler Delva is not satisfied. He would like that Haitian authorities, namely Minister Thierry Mayard-Paul, to relieve Mayor Delva of his duties and other officials of his staff.
The Ministry of the Interior communicated to the press (below) that an effort was being made to shed light on the matter and it remains in the hands of justice.
The Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities informs the national and international community that it had ordered the formation of an administrative commission which visited Thomonde to investigate the incident.
Under the terms of the report, Justice in the person of the magistrate, has begun already regularly hearing the case, the Interior Ministry is therefore withdrawn. At this stage of the proceedings, the Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities is available to any injunction of Justice for an order against any person such administrative action as ordered by a court of law.
The Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities reiterates its absolute commitment to respect fundamental freedoms and especially the human rights and press freedom in Haiti. Minister Thierry Mayard Paul recalls that “for over three decades, Haiti has been working to build a democratic regime. Government to which I belong is fully dedicated to the consolidation of a system where human rights , freedom of the press and generally the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Charter of Human Rights and the citizen are guaranteed for all Haitians. lawyer by profession, comes from a long line of legal practitioners I have always opposed any kind of violence or abuse against journalists and against any other citizen.”
The rule of law, the backbone of any democratic government must prevail in Haiti and is the only safeguard against arbitrariness and popular passions. The Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities, all the Minister wish to reaffirm their total commitment and complete the process of consolidating the rule of law that the country requires of all his wishes and wait for the formulation of any request from Justice to respond immediately in accordance with the Act.
