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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">National Human Rights Defense Network
(RNDDH)</FONT></FONT></B></P>
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face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">_____________________________________________________</FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Riot at the National Penitentiary Results in More
Violence<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Summary of Press
Statement<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>15 May 2006</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH)
is appalled to learn of yet another violent uprising by inmates at the country’s
largest prison facility, the National Penitentiary in <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Port-au-Prince</st1:City></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Early on Sunday, 14 May 2006,
Inauguration Day of recently elected President Rene Préval, inmates broke
through their cells gates, smashing the locks, and allegedly setting fire to
cells in attempts to break out of the prison.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One day after the incident, partial
information regarding the incident suggests at least forty (40) inmates were
injured, five (5) severely.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Injuries include broken bones and gunshot wounds, among others.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Additionally, it is reported that at
least three (3) prison officers were also injured during the riot.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>RNDDH strongly criticizes the blatant neglect of
Haitian authorities to take precautionary measures to secure the prison prior to
Inauguration Day in order to avoid such a situation, despite being aware several
days in advance of rumors forecasting potential problems.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>This is not the first time that such a situation
has developed within this prison as a number of similar incidents have been
recorded between 29 February 2004 and the present.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On 1 December 2004, mutiny among the
inmates of the National Penitentiary resulted in the deaths of ten (10) inmates
and the wounding of forty-six (46) others – 17 of whom had been shot.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Six (6) prison officers were also
injured.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Extensive structural
damage was incurred during the riot as eight (8) cells had been set ablaze.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No measures were taken to avoid future
violent and uprising, and no disciplinary measures were taken against the
officers responsible for the mistreatment and killing of several
inmates.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Just over two (2) months later, on 19 February
2005, armed individuals, together with the complicity of several prison
officers, attacked the prison.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
result:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>one (1) prison officer shot
dead and four hundred and eighty-one (481) prisoners freed.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Today, the tension in the prison remains
high.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An initial attempt by an
RNDDH delegation to visit the prison and document the damage was
unsuccessful.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The State must recognize and accept that when an
individual is detained within one of the country’s prison facilities, the State
is responsible to ensure his/her well-being and take every appropriate measure
to ensure the protection and guarantee of his/her fundamental human
rights.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Given the gravity of Sunday’s riot and previous
incidents, RNDDH strongly recommends that the Haitian Prison Authority do
everything possible to adequately reinforce its prison officers with sufficient
and appropriate resources to perform their duties in operating prison facilities
and rehabilitating inmates.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A
firearm should not be a prison officer’s first line of defense. It is imperative
that officers are provided with other methods of crowd control and defense, such
as high pressure water hoses, tear gas, shields etc.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is the responsibility of the
State to provide such resources. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Additionally, judicial authorities must
acknowledge their responsibility for the serious situation of extended pre-trial
detention within the National Penitentiary where one thousand seven hundred and
twenty-nine (1,729) inmates are still awaiting trial. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The country’s penitentiary system is in
shambles and a plan needs to be developed with regards to its long-term,
sustainable reform.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the case of
14 May 2006, RNDDH recommends that an independent commission be established with
the purpose of fully investigating the riot, identifying the root problems, and
proposing appropriate measures and action to be taken to prevent future
violence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>RNDDH will continue to exhaust all efforts in
order to carry out a full investigation into this incident.</FONT></P>
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