No information regarding the treatment of foreign human rights organizations and their Haitian workers by the population and the government could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, reports point to one incident involving Pierre Espérance, the Director of the Haiti office of the National Coalition for Human Rights, an NGO based in New York, and secretary of the Plate-forme des organisations haïtiennes des droits de l'homme (Nouvelle lettre de la FIDH 14 Apr. 1999; IPS 19 Mar. 1999; AFP 10 Mar. 1999a). Although these reports vary regarding the number of unknown assailants, Pierre Espérance was shot twice on 8 March 1999 while in the Delmas neighbourhood north of Port-au-Prince (ibid.). AFP added that leaflets threatening the Haitian Human Rights Paltform, a coalition of human rights organizations, were circulated (10 Mar. 1999b).

The Director of the National Coalition for Human Rights (NCHR) in New York stated that he was unaware of any other attacks or threats against "foreign" human rights organizations and their Haitian staff than the attempt on Pierre Espérance's life in March 1999 (17 Dec. 1999). The Director added that Pierre Espérance is still in Haiti conducting human rights field work. After the assassination attempt against Pierre Espérance, the NCHR has had to move to a "more secure location" in order to continue its work. Although the staff is prudent when conducting field work, the situation has improved.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 10 March 1999a. "Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigation of Haiti Shooting."

_____. 10 March 1999b. "Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigation of Haiti Shooting." (NEXS)

Director, National Coalition for Human Rights, New York. 17 December 1999. Telephone interview.

Inter Press Service (IPS). 19 March 1999. Ives Marie Chanel. "Human Rights Coalition Suspends Activities."

La Nouvelle Lettre de la FIDH. 15 April 1999. No. 14. (HTI001/9903/OBS018). "Haiti: Attaques-Menaces, 18 Mars 1999".

Additional Sources Consulted

Country Files: Haiti

Central America Report 1997-1999.

LEXIS-NEXIS

NACLA Reports on the Americas. 1997-1999.

Problèmes d'Amérique Latine. 1996-1999.

World News Connection (WNC)

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