ARTICLE - THOMONDE MAYOR DISMISSED

INTERIOR MINISTER DISMISSES MAYOR FOR ATTACK ON JOURNALIST
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - In connection with the attack on a 21-year-old journalist, Wendy Phele, the Mayor of Thomonde was relieved of his duties, announced the Interior Minister, Thierry Mayard-Paul on Monday.

Minister Mayard-Paul did not initially take action against Mayor Delva. Early Monday he had announced that the matter, which he was not directly involved in, was in the hands of law enforcement and justice officials.

SOS Journalists and Reporters Without Borders were threatening to name Minister Mayard-Paul among Haitian government officials predatory to press freedom before the removal of Mayor Souverne Jean Delva.

"Mayor Souverne Jean Delva was removed from office. It is the departmental delegate who now assumes the administrative responsibilities that were invested in Mr. Delva," said Minister Mayard Paul. "Now it is up to justice," he said.

"The Martelly-Lamothe government is a government that respects the freedom of the press and individual freedoms. It would in no way tolerate such abuses," said Mayard Paul.

"There is a chief, the president, and he is careful not to commit wrongdoing. An individual who is guilty of serious violations will be arrested and prosecuted," added the minister.

The interior minister said he acted on the public statements and instructions passed on June 7th by Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, on the day of Latin American Press Freedom. PM Lamothe declared that press freedom and respect for journalists would be upheld in his government.

The Secretary General of SOS Journalists, Guyler Delva, congratulated Minister Mayard Paul for the decision that he sees as a commitment of those in power to respect and uphold the freedom of the press.

"I congratulate Minister Mayard Paul for this important decision, which is likely to facilitate the ongoing investigation. It is now up to justice and the police to fulfill their responsibilities," said Guyler Delva.