by Kim Ives (Haiti Liberte)
(The second of two articles)
On Mar. 2, 2015, gunmen killed Oriel Jean, President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s former security chief from 2001 to 2003, in
Port-au-Prince. After misleading media reports and rumors, he was falsely
accused of selling out Aristide when jailed in the U.S. for 30 months on
charges of money laundering. After returning to Haiti in September 2013, he led
a low-profile life running a construction company.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s former security chief from 2001 to 2003, in
Port-au-Prince. After misleading media reports and rumors, he was falsely
accused of selling out Aristide when jailed in the U.S. for 30 months on
charges of money laundering. After returning to Haiti in September 2013, he led
a low-profile life running a construction company.
In 2001, as the
George W. Bush administration began targeting Aristide officials like Oriel, a
few dozen heavily armed paramilitary “rebels,” led by former army officer and
police chief Guy Philippe and former death-squad leader Jodel Chamblain, began
launching military raids from the Dominican Republic on the Police Academy on
Jul. 28, 2001 and the National Palace on Dec. 17, 2001, both of which the Special
Unit for Guarding the National Palace (USGPN), under Oriel’s direction, repulsed.
George W. Bush administration began targeting Aristide officials like Oriel, a
few dozen heavily armed paramilitary “rebels,” led by former army officer and
police chief Guy Philippe and former death-squad leader Jodel Chamblain, began
launching military raids from the Dominican Republic on the Police Academy on
Jul. 28, 2001 and the National Palace on Dec. 17, 2001, both of which the Special
Unit for Guarding the National Palace (USGPN), under Oriel’s direction, repulsed.
In 2002, using one of its usual
political pressure tactics, the U.S. issued a list of Haitian government
officials, including Oriel, to whom it would deny visas due to their alleged
ties to Haitian drug traffickers. On Jun. 27, 2003, conservative Radio
Métropole reported that Oriel had been “spotted” two days earlier leaving the
Port-au-Prince international airport “incognito… with his entire family” for
Canada, insinuating that he was fleeing the country and might be arrested by
Canadian authorities. Oriel rebutted the report the same day in a telephone
interview with Radio Kiskeya, saying he’d traveled to Montreal for no more than
two weeks to seek medical attention for a bad knee, while his family had joined
him for a vacation and to see relatives.
political pressure tactics, the U.S. issued a list of Haitian government
officials, including Oriel, to whom it would deny visas due to their alleged
ties to Haitian drug traffickers. On Jun. 27, 2003, conservative Radio
Métropole reported that Oriel had been “spotted” two days earlier leaving the
Port-au-Prince international airport “incognito… with his entire family” for
Canada, insinuating that he was fleeing the country and might be arrested by
Canadian authorities. Oriel rebutted the report the same day in a telephone
interview with Radio Kiskeya, saying he’d traveled to Montreal for no more than
two weeks to seek medical attention for a bad knee, while his family had joined
him for a vacation and to see relatives.
“Before you spread rumors, you
should try to confirm the information,” Oriel complained to Kiskeya and the
media in general. “There are simple calls you could make. My God, if I am going
to leave for a few days, do I have to hold a press conference?”
should try to confirm the information,” Oriel complained to Kiskeya and the
media in general. “There are simple calls you could make. My God, if I am going
to leave for a few days, do I have to hold a press conference?”
Despite the interview, Oriel hastily
flew back to Port-au-Prince on Jul. 1, 2003. But, with the U.S. tightening the
political screws, it was decided he should resign as USGPN chief a few days
later, just as Nesly Lucien had been forced to resign as police chief in March
2003.
flew back to Port-au-Prince on Jul. 1, 2003. But, with the U.S. tightening the
political screws, it was decided he should resign as USGPN chief a few days
later, just as Nesly Lucien had been forced to resign as police chief in March
2003.
Oriel continued to play a central
but background role in Aristide’s security until the coup d’état of Feb. 29,
2004. Eight days later, armed with a visa and having received assurances from
an official in the Canadian Embassy that he was welcome, Oriel flew from Punto
Cana, Dominican Republic to Toronto, but he was arrested on arrival there.
Canadian authorities told him they had cancelled his visa.
but background role in Aristide’s security until the coup d’état of Feb. 29,
2004. Eight days later, armed with a visa and having received assurances from
an official in the Canadian Embassy that he was welcome, Oriel flew from Punto
Cana, Dominican Republic to Toronto, but he was arrested on arrival there.
Canadian authorities told him they had cancelled his visa.
“My lawyer and I asked them how they
could revoke someone’s visa without telling them,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté in a 2007 interview. “If
someone has no right to enter Canada, you have to tell them that beforehand,
not after they’ve taken a flight and arrived there… If they don’t want me to
enter, return me to the Dominican Republic or Haiti. I even asked them to
return me to Haiti.”
could revoke someone’s visa without telling them,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté in a 2007 interview. “If
someone has no right to enter Canada, you have to tell them that beforehand,
not after they’ve taken a flight and arrived there… If they don’t want me to
enter, return me to the Dominican Republic or Haiti. I even asked them to
return me to Haiti.”
According to Oriel, he and his
lawyer had won this argument when the proceedings were interrupted, and the
judge was presented with an extradition request from Washington.
lawyer had won this argument when the proceedings were interrupted, and the
judge was presented with an extradition request from Washington.
“My lawyer told me that I could
fight the extradition request, but given the close relationship between Canada
and the U.S., I had very slim chances of winning,” Oriel said. “The legal
fight, the judicial process, in Canada might take two or three years during
which time I’d be detained, and if I did lose, the clock would start at zero
again when I was extradited to the U.S.. So despite some opposition from my
family and supporters in Canada, I decided not to fight the extradition request
and to face my accusers in the U.S..”
fight the extradition request, but given the close relationship between Canada
and the U.S., I had very slim chances of winning,” Oriel said. “The legal
fight, the judicial process, in Canada might take two or three years during
which time I’d be detained, and if I did lose, the clock would start at zero
again when I was extradited to the U.S.. So despite some opposition from my
family and supporters in Canada, I decided not to fight the extradition request
and to face my accusers in the U.S..”
Oriel was extradited to the U.S. on
Mar. 19, 2004. Prosecutors accused him of helping to offload drugs and
demanding a cut of drug profits, charges Oriel vigorously denied. He insisted
that he had taken part in no illegal activities or drug-trafficking whatsoever.
Mar. 19, 2004. Prosecutors accused him of helping to offload drugs and
demanding a cut of drug profits, charges Oriel vigorously denied. He insisted
that he had taken part in no illegal activities or drug-trafficking whatsoever.
“But my lawyer said to me: ‘Listen
son, you’re not in Haiti anymore. Here in the U.S. they have this charge called
conspiracy. Even if you personally weren’t involved in anything, if you were at
all associated with someone who is charged with a crime, and you even accepted
five cents from him, there are ways to accuse you. Going to a trial is very
risky given the demonization of [the] Lavalas [government]. I advise you to
clear yourself, tell them what is true, what is not true, and make a deal.’”
son, you’re not in Haiti anymore. Here in the U.S. they have this charge called
conspiracy. Even if you personally weren’t involved in anything, if you were at
all associated with someone who is charged with a crime, and you even accepted
five cents from him, there are ways to accuse you. Going to a trial is very
risky given the demonization of [the] Lavalas [government]. I advise you to
clear yourself, tell them what is true, what is not true, and make a deal.’”
Oriel followed the advice and
admitted to knowing Haiti’s three principal drug traffickers and having even
accepted gifts from them. “Knowing they were drug traffickers, I should have
kept my distance from them,” he said. “I admitted my error and agreed to pay
the price.”
admitted to knowing Haiti’s three principal drug traffickers and having even
accepted gifts from them. “Knowing they were drug traffickers, I should have
kept my distance from them,” he said. “I admitted my error and agreed to pay
the price.”
“As I did my job, I thought I was
just dealing (en affaire avec) with
the Haitian government,” he added. “I didn’t realize I was dealing with the
U.S. government.”
just dealing (en affaire avec) with
the Haitian government,” he added. “I didn’t realize I was dealing with the
U.S. government.”
He made a deal to plead guilty to
the charge of “Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering” and to testify against
drug trafficker Serge Edouard, who was convicted for life in 2005.
the charge of “Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering” and to testify against
drug trafficker Serge Edouard, who was convicted for life in 2005.
“There are some who say I betrayed
Aristide and said things about him and gave up other people, and that was why I
got so little time,” he said in his 2007 interview. “People can say anything.
The truth is that I simply told them what I knew about the drug traffickers.”
Aristide and said things about him and gave up other people, and that was why I
got so little time,” he said in his 2007 interview. “People can say anything.
The truth is that I simply told them what I knew about the drug traffickers.”
Released from prison in September
2006, with one year probation, Oriel went to work as a parking lot attendant at
Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood Airport, working the midnight to 8:00 a.m. shift. The
U.S. State Department granted him an S visa, given to “alien witnesses and
informants,” which had to be renewed every year following an interview.
2006, with one year probation, Oriel went to work as a parking lot attendant at
Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood Airport, working the midnight to 8:00 a.m. shift. The
U.S. State Department granted him an S visa, given to “alien witnesses and
informants,” which had to be renewed every year following an interview.
Some years, U.S. officials would
delay the renewal. One of those years was 2011. Following Aristide’s Mar. 18,
2011 return to Haiti from a seven-year exile, Oriel told Haïti Liberté that the Justice Department had sent a team of three
investigators to ask him questions about Aristide. He said he provided them
with no answers and sent a hand-delivered message to Aristide about the visit.
In the same note, he gave Aristide some advice and warnings about people in his
security team.
delay the renewal. One of those years was 2011. Following Aristide’s Mar. 18,
2011 return to Haiti from a seven-year exile, Oriel told Haïti Liberté that the Justice Department had sent a team of three
investigators to ask him questions about Aristide. He said he provided them
with no answers and sent a hand-delivered message to Aristide about the visit.
In the same note, he gave Aristide some advice and warnings about people in his
security team.
Finally, Oriel decided to leave
Florida and return to Haiti in September 2012. Under the terms of his S visa,
he would not be allowed back into the U.S., so he knew it was a one-way trip.
“He didn’t want to stay in the U.S. any longer,” his wife Bettina told Haïti Liberté. “He was tired of working
nights at the parking lot. He felt a lot of stress in the States from work,
financial problems, and his immigration status and thought he could contribute
more in Haiti. He was like a fish out of water.”
Florida and return to Haiti in September 2012. Under the terms of his S visa,
he would not be allowed back into the U.S., so he knew it was a one-way trip.
“He didn’t want to stay in the U.S. any longer,” his wife Bettina told Haïti Liberté. “He was tired of working
nights at the parking lot. He felt a lot of stress in the States from work,
financial problems, and his immigration status and thought he could contribute
more in Haiti. He was like a fish out of water.”
Back in Haiti, he went to work as
Operations Director for Claudy Construction, owned by Claude Guillaume, who
also owns Claudy Center Borlette, a popular private lottery in Haiti. “The
Martelly government offered him a job, but he refused it,” said Oriel’s
childhood friend Alix Sainphor. “He didn’t want to be involved in politics, and
he didn’t want anything to do with Martelly.”
Operations Director for Claudy Construction, owned by Claude Guillaume, who
also owns Claudy Center Borlette, a popular private lottery in Haiti. “The
Martelly government offered him a job, but he refused it,” said Oriel’s
childhood friend Alix Sainphor. “He didn’t want to be involved in politics, and
he didn’t want anything to do with Martelly.”
He maintained a low profile, but
trouble came looking for him. Investigating Judge Ivickel Dabrézil subpoenaed
Oriel, along with many others, including Aristide, to provide him with any
information they had concerning the Apr. 3, 2000 murder of radio journalist
Jean Dominique and his radio’s guardian Jean-Claude Louissaint.
trouble came looking for him. Investigating Judge Ivickel Dabrézil subpoenaed
Oriel, along with many others, including Aristide, to provide him with any
information they had concerning the Apr. 3, 2000 murder of radio journalist
Jean Dominique and his radio’s guardian Jean-Claude Louissaint.
Oriel said that he told Dabrézil
what he knew about the matter, testimony that might implicate former Lavalas
Family Senator and Aristide Foundation director Mirlande Libérus – now living
in Florida – in the double killing.
what he knew about the matter, testimony that might implicate former Lavalas
Family Senator and Aristide Foundation director Mirlande Libérus – now living
in Florida – in the double killing.
“You have to understand that I have
no power, no money, no team of lawyers to avoid talking to Dabrézil when he
subpoenaed me,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté
in 2013. “He is taking testimony from many people. I told him exactly what was
said to me, what I did, and what I know. First, I don’t want to get in trouble
by hiding something or telling a lie, and second, I think we should get to the
truth in the Jean Dominique case. It’s gone too long unsolved.”
no power, no money, no team of lawyers to avoid talking to Dabrézil when he
subpoenaed me,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté
in 2013. “He is taking testimony from many people. I told him exactly what was
said to me, what I did, and what I know. First, I don’t want to get in trouble
by hiding something or telling a lie, and second, I think we should get to the
truth in the Jean Dominique case. It’s gone too long unsolved.”
“Some people say I accused Aristide,
which is not true,” he continued. “I was dealing with Mirlande. I don’t know
where it went from there. She will have to give her testimony. But don’t blame
me for just telling what I experienced.”
which is not true,” he continued. “I was dealing with Mirlande. I don’t know
where it went from there. She will have to give her testimony. But don’t blame
me for just telling what I experienced.”
With this tension between certain
former Lavalas Family leaders and Oriel, the stage was set for tragedy.
former Lavalas Family leaders and Oriel, the stage was set for tragedy.
“He had received numerous death
threats, particularly in February 2014,” said Sainphor. “At that time, he chose
to leave Haiti and stay in the Dominican Republic for a month and a half. When
he felt the danger had passed, he returned. But shortly before he was killed,
he had received more threats.”
threats, particularly in February 2014,” said Sainphor. “At that time, he chose
to leave Haiti and stay in the Dominican Republic for a month and a half. When
he felt the danger had passed, he returned. But shortly before he was killed,
he had received more threats.”
Some Haitian analysts question
whether the hidden hand of the “laboratory,” as the U.S. military/intelligence
complex is called in Haiti, might be involved. “It could be that the laboratory
killed two birds with one stone,” said Henriot Dorcent of the party Dessalines
Coordination (KOD). “They eliminate a very connected and experienced guy who
was once a militant in and apparently remained sympathetic to the Haitian
people’s struggle for justice, democracy, and sovereignty. And at the same
time, they lay the crime at Aristide’s doorstep, thereby undermining the
people’s mobilization against the regime of President Michel Martelly, their
puppet.”
whether the hidden hand of the “laboratory,” as the U.S. military/intelligence
complex is called in Haiti, might be involved. “It could be that the laboratory
killed two birds with one stone,” said Henriot Dorcent of the party Dessalines
Coordination (KOD). “They eliminate a very connected and experienced guy who
was once a militant in and apparently remained sympathetic to the Haitian
people’s struggle for justice, democracy, and sovereignty. And at the same
time, they lay the crime at Aristide’s doorstep, thereby undermining the
people’s mobilization against the regime of President Michel Martelly, their
puppet.”
This hypothesis is given credence by
the reaction of Martelly’s former spokesman Guyler C. Delva, secretary general
of SOS Journalists, who put out a Mar. 3 statement saying that Oriel had
“constantly been the subject of death threats from individuals close to former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide whom he had accused of ordering the murder of
Jean Dominique.” In truth, even in a long interview with the former security
chief which Delva made public on Mar. 10 on Radio
Caraïbes, Oriel stopped short of directly accusing anybody of the crime but
simply lays out a version of events and circumstances that are very suggestive.
As Alix Sainphor said: “Guy Delva is lying, twisting and framing Oriel’s words
to further his own agenda.”
the reaction of Martelly’s former spokesman Guyler C. Delva, secretary general
of SOS Journalists, who put out a Mar. 3 statement saying that Oriel had
“constantly been the subject of death threats from individuals close to former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide whom he had accused of ordering the murder of
Jean Dominique.” In truth, even in a long interview with the former security
chief which Delva made public on Mar. 10 on Radio
Caraïbes, Oriel stopped short of directly accusing anybody of the crime but
simply lays out a version of events and circumstances that are very suggestive.
As Alix Sainphor said: “Guy Delva is lying, twisting and framing Oriel’s words
to further his own agenda.”
Other pro-Martelly politicians, like
Sauveur Pierre-Etienne of the Struggling People’s Organization (OPL), have also
charged that Aristide is behind Oriel’s killing.
Sauveur Pierre-Etienne of the Struggling People’s Organization (OPL), have also
charged that Aristide is behind Oriel’s killing.
“Aristide had asked Mirlande and
others to ‘neutralize’ Jean Dominique, whom he saw as a strong challenger for
the presidency coming from Préval’s party Kozepèp,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté in 2013. “Did he mean for
them to physically eliminate him? Frankly, I don’t think so.”
others to ‘neutralize’ Jean Dominique, whom he saw as a strong challenger for
the presidency coming from Préval’s party Kozepèp,” Oriel told Haïti Liberté in 2013. “Did he mean for
them to physically eliminate him? Frankly, I don’t think so.”
Oriel Jean’s funeral is scheduled to
be held on Mar. 11 at the Parc de Souvenir cemetery in Port-au-Prince, where he
will be buried. He is survived by his wife, Bettina, his father, Odiyel, two
sisters, Mamoune and Gladys, and four children, two boys and two girls, ranging
in ages from 27 to 12.
be held on Mar. 11 at the Parc de Souvenir cemetery in Port-au-Prince, where he
will be buried. He is survived by his wife, Bettina, his father, Odiyel, two
sisters, Mamoune and Gladys, and four children, two boys and two girls, ranging
in ages from 27 to 12.
It is perhaps fitting to close with
Oriel’s own words from his 2007 interview with Haïti Liberté: “The U.S. government and media has tried to paint me
as a corrupt criminal, like Jean-Claude or François Duvalier, Ti Bobo, Bòs
Pent, Luc Désir, etc. Those who know my trajectory, who know where I come from
in the struggle since 1986, know that’s not me. Those who have worked alongside
me know that I’m a militant and an upright citizen (sitwayen de bien). However,
I recognize that I’m not perfect, I made errors as everyone does, and I’ve paid
for my errors and started anew. I have made my self-criticism (otokritik). But
I have never been a trafficker, a drug dealer, a criminal. I cannot spend my
whole life fighting against dictatorial power – people who kill others, who beat
others – to become one of them today. My relationship with someone I should not
have been friendly with, which got me into trouble, I don’t deny that. I accept
that. But to make me into something I’m not is not good. I’m very critical
because I was in a key post, and I saw how the government finished badly, and
I’m critical of many people. I’m critical of Aristide, I’m critical of myself,
I’m critical of many people who were in power because I saw what happened in
front of me and how in the end it was the people who were the victim. As I
always say, I am a child of the people, I was raised among the people, and I
will die among the people.”
Oriel’s own words from his 2007 interview with Haïti Liberté: “The U.S. government and media has tried to paint me
as a corrupt criminal, like Jean-Claude or François Duvalier, Ti Bobo, Bòs
Pent, Luc Désir, etc. Those who know my trajectory, who know where I come from
in the struggle since 1986, know that’s not me. Those who have worked alongside
me know that I’m a militant and an upright citizen (sitwayen de bien). However,
I recognize that I’m not perfect, I made errors as everyone does, and I’ve paid
for my errors and started anew. I have made my self-criticism (otokritik). But
I have never been a trafficker, a drug dealer, a criminal. I cannot spend my
whole life fighting against dictatorial power – people who kill others, who beat
others – to become one of them today. My relationship with someone I should not
have been friendly with, which got me into trouble, I don’t deny that. I accept
that. But to make me into something I’m not is not good. I’m very critical
because I was in a key post, and I saw how the government finished badly, and
I’m critical of many people. I’m critical of Aristide, I’m critical of myself,
I’m critical of many people who were in power because I saw what happened in
front of me and how in the end it was the people who were the victim. As I
always say, I am a child of the people, I was raised among the people, and I
will die among the people.”
