UA 372/92 - Haiti: fear for safety / possible extrajudicial execution: Justin Brezil, Wesner Luc
Justin Brezil and Wesner Luc were reportedly abducted on 22 November 1992 in Port-au-Prince. The bullet-ridden body of Wesner Luc was found the next day. It is thought that he may have been extrajudicially executed by members of the security forces or those working with them. No news of the whereabouts of Justin Brezil has emerged. AI is concerned about his safety. Both were active members of the Comite National des Congres des Mouvements Democratiques (KONAKOM), whose members have been targets of threats and intimidation since the coup in 1991. Another KONAKOM member, Marcel Fleurzile, was reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen in September 1992.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 36/53/92
Distr: UA/SC
UA 372/92 Fear for safety/ 27 November 1992
Possible extrajudicial execution
HAITI Justin BRÉZIL, aged 29
Wesner LUC, aged 20
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Justin Brézil, reportedly
abducted on 22 November 1992 in Port-au-Prince together with Wesner Luc. Amnesty
International is also concerned that Wesner Luc, found dead the following day, may
have been extrajudicially executed.
Justin Brézil and Wesner Luc, active members of Comité National des Congrès des
Mouvements Démocratiques (KONAKOM), National Committee of Congress of Democratic
Movements, were reportedly abducted on 22 November at about 1pm by three heavily
armed men, who drove them away in a jeep. On 23 November the bullet-ridden body
of Wesner Luc was reportedly found in a road north of Port-au-Prince. Amnesty
International believes that his killing may have been an extrajudicial execution
carried out by members of the security forces or those working with them.
No news as to the whereabouts of Justin Brézil have emerged and Amnesty International
is concerned for his safety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Troops violently overthrew the democratically elected government of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who took office in Haiti on 7 February 1991, in a coup on
the night of 29 to 30 September. Since then Amnesty International has learned of
widespread human rights violations committed by the security forces, including a
large number of extrajudicial executions, torture and ill-treatment and mass arrests
without warrant. Several of those detained by the authorities remain "disappeared",
carried out against supporters and those perceived to be supporters of the ousted
president. These abuses have been carried out by uniformed security force agents
or, on some occasions, by men in civilian clothes ostensibly linked to them (see
Haiti: Human Rights Held to Ransom, AI Index: AMR 36/41/92, August 1992). On 19
June 1992 a new prime minister, Marc Bazin was sworn in. Several days before he
took office, he pledged before the Haitian senate to "stop repression and restore
freedom of the press". However, Amnesty International is continuing to receive
reports of widespread human rights violations.
Since the 1991 coup members of KONAKOM have been the target of threats and intimidation.
On 3 September 1992 Marcel Fleurzile, peasant leader and member of KONAKOM, was
reportedly killed by unidentified men and his body found in Port-au-Prince near the
KONAKOM offices (see UA 289/92, AMR 36/47/92 of 11 September 1992).
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters
either in Spanish, English or in your own language:
- asking that the whereabouts of Justin Brézin be made known and that his physical
safety be guaranteed;
- asking for a thorough investigation into the abduction of Justin Brézin and Wesner
Luc and into the killing of the latter, that the results of the investigation be
made public and those found to be responsible be brought to justice;
- urging that all adequate measures be taken to guarantee the safety of other members
of KONAKOM.
Page 2 of UA 372/92
APPEALS TO
1) Prime Minister:
Marc BAZIN
Premier Ministre
Palais National
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telegrams: Premier Ministre BAZIN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Faxes: + 509 34 1980, + 509 23 2121
Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Minister / Dear Prime Minister
2) Minister of the Interior and Defence:
M. le Général Carl Michel NICOLAS
Ministre de l'Intérieur
et de la Défense Nationale
Palais des Ministères
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telegrams: Ministre de l'Interieur NICOLAS, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telephone: + 509 22 9198, + 509 22 1090
Telexes: 20515 Dptindn
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister
3) Chief of National Police:
Monsieur le Lt. Colonel
Michel FRANÇOIS
Chef de la Police Nationale
Grand Quartier Général de la Police
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telegrams: Chef, Police Nationale, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Salutation: Monsieur le Lt. Colonel / Dear Lt. Colonel
4) Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces:
Monsieur le Général Raoul CEDRAS
Commandant-en-Chef des Forces Armées d'Haïti
Grand Quartier Général des Forces Armées d'Haïti
Rue Geffrard
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telegrams: Comandant-en-Chef des Armees d'Haiti Cedras, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telephone: + 509 22 3935
Telexes: 20391 gqfadh
Faxes: + 509 23 9007, + 509 23 9407
Salutation: Monsieur le Général / Dear General
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Haïti en Marche (News weekly)
173 N.W. 94 St
Miami
FL 33150, USA
and to diplomatic representatives of Haiti accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your
section office, if sending appeals after 8 January 1993.