The Disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Please help us put pressure on the Haitian Authorities to find Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine. Contact the Haitian Embassy in Washington, DC and let your voice be heard. We desperately need your help finding Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine.
Embassy of the Republic of Haiti
2311 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel : 202.332.4090
Fax : 202.745.7215
E-mail : embassy@haiti.org
Open letter to Haitian authorities, on the occasion of the first anniversary disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen Officials,
A year ago to date, on August 12, 2007, my husband, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, returning from an out-of-city stay, hurryingly left his place of residence to go to an appointment scheduled by phone by individuals who likely meant to entrap him. It was the last time, up to now while I am writing to you, that he was seen by the members of his family. It was also the beginning of a crescendo agony for his Loved Ones as well as for his friends and allies.
August 12, 2007-August 12, 2008.
Twelve long months have gone by since this disappearance was reported to all concerned constituencies of the country: Presidency, Ministry of Economy, Parliament, Ministry of Justice, National Police of Haiti, UN, OEA, etc.
To this day, the Pierre-Antoine family has noted with disappointment -- but without surprise-- the apparent lack -- short of saying the total absence -- of results following actions and investigations with which the authorities should proceed.
Today, my stance is the one of a traumatized spouse, of a shocked and powerless head of household mother, who remains helplessly silent when facing the questions that the two sons of Lovinsky ask on a daily basis about what actually happened to their beloved father.
No information was given on the progress of the investigation and I come to the point of wondering if there really is a genuine intent to reach concrete and official conclusions.
A year after this event, the Haitian authorities, as well as the public opinion seem to have forgotten this citizen whose disappearance, as human being, should mobilize our minds. The worst is the mental, mortal agony endured by the members of his family; it is also the outrage generated by the perversity of his abductors and the flagrant indifference of his closest assistants.
There is no doubt that such an active and vibrant citizen as Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine does not disappear, does not evaporate in thin air without leaving any trace. In fact, the traces and indicators, left during and after his abduction were not judiciously followed or explored enough in order to reach concrete results.
I want proof of the fingerprints found in the vehicle used by Lovinsky, the sensational and revealing declarations made to the press by an influential member of the political party of which Lovinsky is a member.
Personally, I had, in a not so distant past, related to the police that, in a spur of hope, I had dialed Lovinsky's cell phone number, and I was appalled to talk with a correspondent who calmly answered, without seeming concerned that he held in his hand a personal object that belonged to a mysteriously disappeared person, which should bear weight of proof, would justice prevail in this country.
When thinking about the disappearance of Lovinsky, the members of his family and myself come to the conviction that if his physical body escapes our view, he remains alive in our hearts and souls, as a remarkable husband, a father concerned about the education and future of his children and a wise mentor for his entourage.
Of course, one may not adhere to his ideological convictions and political practices, but one cannot fail to admire his activism, his seriousness, his respect for Words of Honor, his team spirit and especially his love for Haiti . We are lacking words and images to describe Lovingky's incomparable and magnificent qualities. We keep the very best memories of him in our hearts.
Embracing the shoulders of my two sons who mourn the disappearance of their beloved dad and await his probable return, I have not other choice than to rely on the conscience of all concerned authorities to shed light around his disappearance.
In fact, it is time to break down this atmosphere of suspense and of uncertainty; it is about time to break the silence observed around this matter, a silence converted into a tacit plot, woven to maintain secrecy on the intellectual authors of this hateful act.
Once again, I appeal to the conscience of each and everyone of you to let the truth emerge and put an end to this unspeakable tragedy, for Lovinsky as well as for the members of his family. I also appeal to the conscience of the members of the new government, so that they may re-launch the file of Lovinsky and let the truth shine.
In conclusion, I join my boys to express my gratitude and my thanks to the true friends and supporters of Lovinsky, to all those who offered their moral support, to all those who made incommensurable sacrifices to express their disapproval of this act, on the streets of various cities of Haiti, United States and other countries, as well as in front of various Haitian diplomatic outlets abroad, to all those who wrote articles on this matter through audio, written, televised media and through the Internet and at last, to all those who, in a way or another, showed their empathy around this sad and painful circumstance.
May they rest assured that beyond all abominations, the family of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine remains stronger than ever. Sustained by Hope!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Michèle Pierre- Antoine
Wife of Lovinsky
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Lettre ouverte aux autorités haïtiennes à l’occasion du premier anniversaire de la disparition de Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine.
Mesdames/Messieurs les autorités,
Il y a un an exactement, le 12 aout 2007, mon époux, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, revenant d’un séjour en province, a laissé précipitamment son domicile pour se rendre à un rendez-vous fixé au téléphone par des individus qui voulaient probablement l’attirer dans un piège. C’était la dernière fois jusqu’au moment de la rédaction de la présente qu’il a été vu par les membres de sa famille. C’était aussi le commencement de la montée d’un calvaire tant pour ses proches que pour ses alliés et amis.
12 aout 2007-12 aout 2008. Douze longs mois se sont écoulés depuis que cette disparition a été reportée à toutes les instances concernées du pays : Présidence, Primature, Parlement, Ministère de la Justice, Police Nationale d’Haïti, ONU, OEA, etc. A ce jour, la famille Pierre-Antoine a constaté avec déception, mais sans surprise le manque apparent pour ne pas dire l’absence totale de résultats suite aux actions et enquêtes que devraient mener les autorités.
Aujourd’hui, ma démarche est celle d’une épouse traumatisée, d’une mère de famille choquée et impuissante qui reste bouche bée face aux questions posées quotidiennement par les deux garçons de Lovinsky sur ce qui est réellement arrivé à leur père chéri. Aucune information n’a été donnée sur les avancées de l’enquête et j’arrive à un point où je me demande s’il y a vraiment une volonté manifeste d’aboutir à des conclusions concrètes et officielles.
Un an après cet événement, tant les autorités haïtiennes que l’opinion publique semblent avoir oublié ce citoyen dont la disparition, en tant qu’être humain, devrait mobiliser les esprits. Le pire, c’est l’agonie mentale vécue par les membres de sa famille ; c’est aussi l’indignation que produisent la perversité de ses ravisseurs et l’indifférence flagrante d’une fraction de ses plus proches collaborateurs.
Il n’y a aucun doute qu’un actif citoyen de la trempe de Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine ne disparait pas, ne s’évapore pas dans la nature sans laisser de trace. En effet, les pistes et les indices laissés pendant et après son enlèvement n’ont pas été suffisamment exploités ou explorés à bon escient afin d’aboutir à des résultats concrets. J’en veux pour preuve les empreintes digitales trouvées dans le véhicule utilisé par Lovinsky, les déclarations fracassantes et révélatrices faites à la presse par un membre influent du parti politique dont Lovinsky est membre. Personnellement, j’avais, dans un passé pas trop lointain, relaté à la police que dans un élan d’espoir j’avais composé le numéro du téléphone cellulaire de Lovinsky et je fus étonnée de trouver un correspondant qui m’avait répondu calmement sans se soucier qu’il détenait dans ses mains un objet personnel qui appartenait à une personne disparue mystérieusement et qui pourrait constituer le corps du délit si la justice avait droit de cité dans ce pays.
En pensant à la disparition de Lovinsky, les membres de sa famille et moi, nous nous mettons à l’idée que c’est son corps physique qui échappe à notre vue, mais il reste et demeure vivant dans nos cœurs et nos esprits pour autant qu’il est un remarquable époux, un père de famille soucieux de l’éducation et de l’avenir de ses enfants et un conseiller avisé pour son entourage. Certes, on peut ne pas adhérer à ses convictions idéologiques et ses pratiques politiques, mais, on ne peut ne pas admirer sa militance, son sérieux, son respect de la parole donnée, son esprit d’équipe et surtout son amour pour Haïti. Les mots et les paroles nous manquent pour décrire les rares et magnifiques qualités que possède Lovinsky. Nous gardons de lui les meilleurs souvenirs.
Passant la main autour des épaules de mes deux fils qui pleurent la disparition de leur cher papa et qui attendent son probable retour, je n’ai d’autre choix que de m’en remettre à la conscience de toutes les autorités concernées pour faire jaillir la lumière autour de cette disparition. En effet, il est temps de rompre avec cette ambiance de suspense et d’incertitude ; il est temps de rompre avec ce silence observé autour de cette affaire, un silence converti en un complot tacite tramé pour maintenir le secret sur l’identité des auteurs intellectuels de cet acte odieux. Une fois encore, j’en appelle à la conscience de chacun et de tous pour faire émerger la vérité et en finir avec cette indicible tragédie pour Lovinsky comme pour les membres de sa famille. J’en appelle aussi à la conscience des membres du nouveau gouvernement pour qu’ils puissent relancer le dossier de Lovinsky et faire éclater la vérité.
Pour conclure, je m’associe à mes garçons pour exprimer ma reconnaissance et mes remerciements aux vrais amis et supporteurs de Lovinsky, à tous ceux qui ont apporté leur soutien moral, à tous ceux qui ont consenti des sacrifices incommensurables pour exprimer la réprobation de cet acte dans les rues de différentes villes d’Haïti, des Etats-Unis et d’autres pays ainsi que devant diverses représentations diplomatiques d’Haïti à l’étranger, à tous ceux qui ont rédigé des articles sur cette affaire à travers la presse parlée, écrite, télévisée et l’internet, enfin à tous ceux qui, d’une manière ou d’une autre, ont manifesté leurs sympathies à l’occasion de cette triste et pénible circonstance.
Qu’ils sachent qu’au-delà de toutes les abominations, la famille de Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine reste plus forte que jamais. Portée par l’espoir.
Lundi 11 Aout 2008
Michèle Pierre-Antoine
Epouse de Lovinsky
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Haiti Information Project (HIP), 11:01 AM
Haiti Information Project (HIP), 11:01 AM
by Kevin Pina
Events marking the one-year anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of Haitian human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine took place in several major cities last week. Demonstrations and vigils were held in Port au Prince, Haiti where several hundred supporters marched to the Palace of Justice to demand that the government of President Rene Preval and the United Nations release a report on their investigations into his disappearance. Similar actions took place in London, Oakland and Los Angeles.
Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine was last seen in Haiti after leaving a meeting with a human rights delegation from the United States and Canada on August 12, 2007. His abandoned vehicle was found the next morning and he has not been heard from since. Although his alleged abductors contacted friends and family two days later demanding a $300,000 ransom, most people including Amnesty International, believe this was a ruse to cover up what was actually a political abduction aimed at silencing Mr. Pierre-Antoine. They point to the fact that most kidnappers maintain contact in an effort to negotiate and arrange for payment. Amnesty International issued an appeal last January where they stated, "Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine's abduction was reportedly made to look like a kidnapping for ransom. On Tuesday 14 August, the alleged abductors called Pierre-Antoine's family asking for a ransom of USD 300,000. However there has been no further contact from the abductors."
So who is Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine and why is there a growing chorus of international condemnation of the government of President Rene Preval and the U.N. regarding his case? According to Amnesty International, "Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine graduated in psychology from the Haitian State University and obtained further specialisation on child psychology in Montreal, Canada. He has been involved for several years as a grass-roots community organizer, mainly working with children. In the early 1990s, he co-founded the Foundation for the Support of Children (Fondsayon Kore Timoun Yo) for young street children in Port-au-Prince, and a centre for teenage mothers (Foyer pour Mères Adolescentes)."
Mr. Pierre-Antoine is also one of the founders of the Fondasyon Trant Septanm (September 30th Foundation) and is a leading advocate and voice for victims of the 1991 brutal military coup in Haiti. He is also one of the fiercest critics of the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004 and is closely associated with his Lavalas political movement. Mr. Pierre-Antoine was appointed General Coordinator of the National Office on Migration during the last presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and was forced into exile after the U.S-installed regime of Gerard Latortue took power. He returned to Haiti to continue his human rights work in February 2006.
Brian Concannon is an attorney who works with a rights group called the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti or IJDH. Mr. Concannon, who is also a close friend and colleague of Mr. Pierre-Antoine, spoke of his decision to return to Haiti in 2006, “I know it was a difficult decision for Lovinsky, because he knew the risks, and he had a family that he loved. But in the end, Lovinsky felt he could not stay out of Haiti any longer, that he was needed to help organize progressive grassroots voices in Haiti.” Concannon recalled the pressure Mr. Pierre-Antoine faced after returning to his homeland, “I last saw Lovinsky in person in February 2007. At the time he was receiving threats, and frequently changing where he slept. He knew he was in danger, but also knew that in Haiti’s democratic transition that the traditional forces would have the upper hand. He knew that if the people did not organize, life would become more difficult for the majority of Haitians who are poor.” Days before his abduction, Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine announced his intention to run as a candidate for the Haitian Senate under the banner of the Fanmi Lavalas Party, Jean-Bertrand Aristide's political party.
Wilson Mesilien, who has been standing in for Mr. Pierre-Antoine as Acting Director of the Fondasyon Trant Septanm, has condemned what he has called "a wall of silence" when referring to the investigation of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine's disappearance by the government of President Rene Preval and the United Nations in Haiti. A lack of any discernable progress made by them in the case has led to speculation ranging from a concerted effort to keep Mr. Pierre Antoine's disappearance quiet to charges of complicity in his abduction.
When asked about progress made by Haitian authorities towards solving Mr. Pierre-Antoine’s case, Brian Concannon stated, “I have not heard of any report from any Haitian authorities on Lovinsky’s disappearance, despite requests from Lovinsky’s family, Fondasyon Trant Septanm, members of the U.S. Congress and human rights and Haiti solidarity activists from around the world.” In describing the progress of investigations made by the Haitian police in the case Concannon commented, “We also know that the police have repeatedly failed to follow up on leads they have been provided. It is hard to escape the conclusion that the Haitian government is not reporting on its investigation because it is not conducting one.”
Other critics point to numerous death threats made against Mr. Mesilien and his family as proof of an organized effort to silence criticism of the authorities concerning their lack of a serious investigation. Amnesty International was moved to issue an appeal last December "calling for the authorities to ensure Wilson Mesilien’s protection in accordance with his wishes."
Equally disturbing is the fact that the United Nations leadership has failed to recognize Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine’s abduction and disappearance altogether. According to a report delivered to the U.N. General Assembly on January 10, 2008 by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), there were no reported instances of persons disappeared in Haiti during the year 2007. The WGEID is part of the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights and as such is in the loop to receive regular human rights reports filed by the U.N. mission in Haiti.
More than five months after Mr. Pierre-Antoine’s disappearance and public acknowledgement of the case by U.N. authorities in Haiti, the WGEID completely omitted any reference to it in their report to the General Assembly. Brian Concannon is puzzled by this glaring omission on the part of the WGEID. He responded, “I cannot explain why Lovinsky was left out of the Working Group’s report. The UN Mission in Haiti issued a press release about it. The abduction was in the news, Amnesty International and other human rights groups issued action alerts. The omission was especially troubling because Lovinsky was such a high profile human rights activist, and candidate for the Senate elections.”
Whatever the reason behind the omission of Mr. Pierre-Antoine’s case in the WGEID’s report, it is sure to stoke fears of an organized effort to cover-up the facts of his abduction and disappearance one-year ago in Haiti. Demonstrations and vigils demanding accountability in the investigation of the disappearance of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, like those that occurred last week, are expected to continue to grow as a result.