ARTICLE - DEPUTY BELIZAIRE - RELEASED

DEPUTY BELIZAIRE RELEASED TO THE PARLIAMENT
(Defend Haiti) - By Jonel Juste

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Deputy Arnel Bélizaire (Delmas & Tabarre/Veye-Yo) was released from the National Penitentiary on Friday following his arrest at the international airport, yesterday.

Belizaire was led, surrounded by supporters, by police officers to the Haitian Parliament. Deputy Bélizaire made a V sign for "victory", reported an MP in the Parliament.

However, it is unclear if the lawmaker was released. Imprisoned last night, he is now in the House of Representatives with his colleagues.

Deputy Bélizaire upon returning to Haiti after a mission in Paris, France was arrested at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The care and respect of the rights of the representative of Delmas & Tabarre was ensured by a visit from Prime Minister Garry Conille.

Bélizaire did not sleep with the prison population but in the office of the penitentiary administrator.

On Friday, the Minister of Justice Josue Pierre-Louis said he was not aware or in control of the actions of the Attorney General of Port-au-Prince, Félix Léger, who commissioned the warrant for the arrest.

Parliamentarians including the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Sorel Jacinthe (Moron & Chamberllan/Inite) were all kept from entering the Diplomatic Room at the airport.

The arrest of Bélizaire is viewed as an unconstitutional act in that it conflicts with ARTICLE 114-2 and ARTICLE 115 of the Constitution of Haiti which provides immunity - requiring only colleagues in the chamber to remove it.