Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTAUPRINCE1484
2007-09-10 12:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
PROMINENT JOURNALIST'S ASSASSINS BROUGHT TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2804 OO RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #1484 2531243 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 101243Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6809 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1631 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1449 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0883 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1296 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR
SUBJECT: PROMINENT JOURNALIST'S ASSASSINS BROUGHT TO
JUSTICE
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1451
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR
SUBJECT: PROMINENT JOURNALIST'S ASSASSINS BROUGHT TO
JUSTICE
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1451
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified please protect
accordingly.
2. (U) According to media reports, two young men, Alby
Joseph, 22 and Chery Beaubrun, 16 were sentenced to life in
prison for the July 2005 murder of well-known poet and
journalist, Jacques Roche in Port-au-Prince. The sentencing
was pronounced on August 30, twenty days after an independent
commission was formed to support the investigation of
assassinated journalists (CIAPEAJ). The commission was
jointly created at the initiative of President Preval and
journalist organization SOS, and is supported by UN Secretary
General spokesperson Michele Montas. (Note: Montas'
husband, journalist and activist Jean Dominique's 2000 murder
remains unsolved. End note).
3. (U) Joseph and Beaubrun admitted to having tortured and
killed Roche after they received a USD $10,000 ransom from
his family. The ransom was suspiciously delivered by the
popular singer Antonio Cheramy (aka Don Kato),who is known
to have links to ''Base Cameroun,'' a violent grassroots gang
based in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. (Note:
Don Kato was active in President Preval's electoral campaign
and is purported to be the president's favorite singer. End
note). Three other criminals already in custody for violent
crime and possession of weapons were also implicated in
Roche's assassination after Alby Joseph identified them as
co-conspirators from behind bars. Lavalas priest and
''spiritual advisor'' to former president Aristide, Father
Gerard Jean-Juste was apprehended in July 2005 as a suspect
in the Roche murder, but was released in January 2006 for
medical reasons (reftel).
4. (SBU) Comment: The arrest and sentencing of two
assassins for the murder of Jacques Roche is a positive
development in the two-year old investigation. It is
evident, however, that the investigation will continue for
some time, as those already implicated drop the dime on their
co-conspirators. Public pressure in the face of
foot-dragging by the Ministry of Justice led to the formation
of the independent commission CIAPEJ. This case is yet
another reflection of the poor state of Haiti's criminal
justice system, and again highlights the dire need for
judicial reform.
SANDERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR
SUBJECT: PROMINENT JOURNALIST'S ASSASSINS BROUGHT TO
JUSTICE
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1451
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified please protect
accordingly.
2. (U) According to media reports, two young men, Alby
Joseph, 22 and Chery Beaubrun, 16 were sentenced to life in
prison for the July 2005 murder of well-known poet and
journalist, Jacques Roche in Port-au-Prince. The sentencing
was pronounced on August 30, twenty days after an independent
commission was formed to support the investigation of
assassinated journalists (CIAPEAJ). The commission was
jointly created at the initiative of President Preval and
journalist organization SOS, and is supported by UN Secretary
General spokesperson Michele Montas. (Note: Montas'
husband, journalist and activist Jean Dominique's 2000 murder
remains unsolved. End note).
3. (U) Joseph and Beaubrun admitted to having tortured and
killed Roche after they received a USD $10,000 ransom from
his family. The ransom was suspiciously delivered by the
popular singer Antonio Cheramy (aka Don Kato),who is known
to have links to ''Base Cameroun,'' a violent grassroots gang
based in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. (Note:
Don Kato was active in President Preval's electoral campaign
and is purported to be the president's favorite singer. End
note). Three other criminals already in custody for violent
crime and possession of weapons were also implicated in
Roche's assassination after Alby Joseph identified them as
co-conspirators from behind bars. Lavalas priest and
''spiritual advisor'' to former president Aristide, Father
Gerard Jean-Juste was apprehended in July 2005 as a suspect
in the Roche murder, but was released in January 2006 for
medical reasons (reftel).
4. (SBU) Comment: The arrest and sentencing of two
assassins for the murder of Jacques Roche is a positive
development in the two-year old investigation. It is
evident, however, that the investigation will continue for
some time, as those already implicated drop the dime on their
co-conspirators. Public pressure in the face of
foot-dragging by the Ministry of Justice led to the formation
of the independent commission CIAPEJ. This case is yet
another reflection of the poor state of Haiti's criminal
justice system, and again highlights the dire need for
judicial reform.
SANDERSON