PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Haitian-based media group, SOS Journalistes, has expressed concerns over what it describes as “the new and serious developments” regarding journalist Guerrier Henri, who is facing charges, including affiliation with a criminal coalition of criminal gangs.
The Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) has accused the journalist of being a member of the “Viv Ansanm gangs which have been accused of committing various crimes, including murder and rape, in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
In addition, the DCPJ has charged him with illicit enrichment and money laundering.
But SOS Journalistes, general secretary, Joseph Guyler C. Delva, said the media organization had spoken to Henri, who rejected these accusations, calling them “false and malicious”.
Delva said that SOS Journalistes, “respectful of the law and the authority of the DCPJ, does not intend to interfere or contribute to the blocking of the current case, but demands fair and equitable treatment for the journalist who, for some time, has been subjected to open political persecution by the current power holders, because of his critical work.
“It should be recalled that, on the express instructions of the Transitional Presidential Council ( known as CPT), the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) had wrongfully decided to suspend the programme “Boukante Lapawòl,” (Exchanging Words), hosted by Henri, on Radio Mega, for eight long months,” he added.
According to a CONATEL memo dated November 22, 2024, Radio Mega was using its frequency for “the mass dissemination of propaganda in support of armed groups sowing terror throughout the capital.”
SOS Journalistes said it believes that Henri is “potentially the victim of the animosity of the authorities, who repeatedly attempted to unfairly and arbitrarily arrest him,” adding, “this is a severe, deliberate, and explicit attack on press freedom.
“SOS Journalistes firmly supports journalist Guerrier Henri until the DCPJ and other authorities provide tangible, verifiable, and irrefutable evidence to support their serious accusations.”
It said that Henri has agreed to collaborate with the DCPJ despite legitimate suspicions of political maneuvering and manipulation by certain authorities.
“Instead of joining gangs, journalist Guerrier Henri often calls on police and government authorities to assume their responsibilities by cracking down on gangs, eradicating them, and putting them out of action.”
The media organization said that the journalist was criticised for interviewing one or more gang leaders, “while journalists from major French and American networks were able to visit, without any hindrance from the same government and police authorities, the bases of those known to be members of the criminal coalition “Viv Ansanm” for lengthy interviews and even documentaries.
“SOS Journalistes strongly condemns the shameful and discriminatory behavior displayed by our leaders, while Haitian and/or foreign journalists are all journalists in their own right, called upon to do the same work.
“SOS Journalistes does not claim to have detailed knowledge of every aspect of a journalist’s private life, but remains convinced that Guerrier Henri is subjected to the attacks by the authorities because of his political independence. And this is unacceptable!”
It said that it will continue to “insist on the need for journalists and other media workers to scrupulously apply the ethical rules that guarantee the responsible exercise of freedom of the press and expression in Haiti.
“SOS Journalistes closely monitors the work of the DCPJ, and no abuse of journalists’ rights will be accepted or tolerated.”
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