United States Concerned About the Rule of Law in Haiti

The United States is deeply concerned over the August 17, 2004 acquittal of former paramilitary leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain and former police official Jackson Joanis for their role in the 1993 murder of businessman Antoine Izmery in Port au Prince.  We deeply regret the haste with which their cases were brought to retrial, resulting in procedural deficiencies that call into question the integrity of the process.
 
The United States recognizes the challenges faced by the Interim Government of Haiti in rebuilding shattered and corrupted institutions. Moreover, we recognize that the Interim Government also faces a continuing challenge from illegally armed groups across the political spectrum and requires the assistance of the international community to help restore the rule of law in Haiti.  The United States calls on the Interim Government to ensure that trials involving accusations of gross human rights violations and other such crimes be conducted in a credible manner.

2004/910