Amanus Maette Remains a Political Prisoner

By: Wadner Pierre - www.haitianalysis.com

With an aim of obtaining the release of political prisoners, Haitian senators are growing more vocal. For some months now, each week, the family members of political prisoners and organizations like the GDP (Group of Defense of the rights of the Political prisoners), Foundation September 30 and Kolektif Fanmiy Prisonye politik have held non-violent sit-in demonstrations in front of the Ministry for Justice and Public Safety. They have demanded the release of all political prisoners. As usual the members of various families protest constantly with Mrs.Keita, the wife of the former Fanmi Lavalas member of Parliament Amanus Maette.

Keita declares "The release of my husband will represent a great satisfaction for the family of Amanus and all of our families." Along with members from various human rights and political prisoners organizations, the protestors did not hide their dissension with the Preval government's policeis. The government should do better with the cases of political prisoners, they explained. "President Préval in early 2006 before taking office, recognized, during a trip to Europe, that there are political prisoners in Haitian jails." explained one demonstrator.

Political prisoners, thrown in jail illegally because of their opinions, now have received the attention of newly elected Haitian Senators. Organizations rallying for the prisoners have thus far met with the ministry for justice, Evalière Beauplan, Senator of the department of the North-West, elected under the banner BRIDGE, and with Roody Herivaud, Senator of the west, elected under the banner of Fanmi Lavalas. All three Senators have said they worry about the health and illegal jailing of former Fanmi Lavalas member of Parliament Fanmi Amanus Maette. Multiple human rights groups have shown the charges against him to be false while he has remained illegaly in jail for more than two years.

Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and the former Minister of Interior Department Joceleme Privet retained under similar false pretexts, are now both free. Their freedom was seen as a victory for the Haitian justice system. Senator Roody Herivaud explained, "We greet all the efforts made by the Magloire minister. But why are peaceful citizens still held in Jail? Jails are supposed to have a purpose to hold those involved in crimes and robberies. It is time that Amanus and all those which do not have a voice return to their families."

Another Senator, Beauplan, declared, "We met with the minister Rene Magloire on the file [of Amanus Maette] and it is clear that he should not sit in jail as a political prisoner under this government, a democratic government."

Photo Wadner Pierre 2007