Following the issuance of an arrest warrant issued against the former President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, by the judge Lamarre Bélizaire https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11812-haiti-justice-arrest-warrant-issued-against-j-b-aristide.html , for failing to appear before the judge as stipulated in a summons to appear, issued as part of a criminal investigation where the former President is charged with "illegal drug trafficking, embezzlement of public funds, treason and extortion, and money laundering" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11805-haiti-justice-j-b-aristide-summoned-to-court.html ; nearly 200 Aristide supporters Thursday blocked access to the residence of the former President, fearing an intervention by the Police for the arrest of their leader.

Protesters obviously very angry, brandishing photos of Aristide and threw hostile remarks against the Government, had erected barricades of rocks and burning tires, blocking the road in both directions, and access to the house of Aristide. The peacekeepers of MINUSTAH intervened in reinforcement to the PNH, to disperse the demonstrators with tear gas and restore public order.

Me Mario Joseph, a lawyer for Mr. Aristide, who initially claimed that his client had never received the summons to appear says now that the summons has not been delivered in good and due form to the former President and that therefore he could not be arrested in this case.

Concerning the warrant against the former President, the latter is at the heart of a controversy as to its validity, because according to some legal experts, of the limit of jurisdiction of the Judge or flaw for others...

Just like the Senate President, Senator of the Opposition, John Joël Joseph (member of G6) describes as political persecution the prosecution undertaken and the travel bans, against personalities close to Aristide and against the former Head of State.

The Patriotic Movement of Democratic Opposition (MOPOD), which includes the major opposition parties also denounced political persecution and announces the forthcoming resumption of anti-government protests.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11812-haiti-justice-arrest-warrant-issued-against-j-b-aristide.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11810-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11805-haiti-justice-j-b-aristide-summoned-to-court.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11766-haiti-justice-travel-ban-for-aristide-who-is-right.html

PI/ HaitiLibre