In a memo, the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) expresses its particular concern about the increase in armed attacks perpetrated by the terrorist organization "Viv Ansanm" against Haitian media outlets and journalists.

The RNDDH highlights that between March 12 and 16, 2025, at least three media outlets were attacked :

"During the night of March 12 to 13, 2025, in Port-au-Prince, the offices of Radiotélévision Caraïbes (RTVC) on Chavannes Street were set on fire after being looted by armed bandits https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44471-haiti-flash-the-premises-of-rtvc-in-ruelle-chavannes-burned.html ; During the same night, still in Port-au-Prince, Radio Mélodie F.M. was vandalized https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44477-haiti-news-zapping.html ;

During the night of March 15-16, 2025, in Delmas, the offices of Télé Pluriel were set on fire by individuals who, to gain entry, first broke through the TV station's main gate. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44498-haiti-news-zapping.html

The RNDDH recalls that since February 28, 2024, the terrorist organization "Viv Ansanm" has been sowing terror in the country, particularly in the West and Artibonite departments; and has been attacking the spoken, written, and televised media with impunity. "In one year, the offices of at least four media outlets have been vandalized, destroyed, and/or set on fire. At least two journalists have been killed, seven others have been shot and wounded, and one more has been kidnapped and held for ransom by armed bandits, all members of "Viv Ansanm."

On the afternoon of March 18, 2024, in Pétion-Ville, journalist Lucien Jura, former Spokesperson for the Presidency, was kidnapped. He was not released until March 21, 2024. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41948-haiti-news-zapping.html ;

On the night of April 18-19, 2024, in Port-au-Prince, armed bandits began looting the offices of the newspaper Le Nouvelliste. They spent several days committing their crime, without any concern;

On December 24, 2024, journalists Marckenzy NATHOUX and Jimmy JEAN were killed by armed bandits as they were preparing to cover the reopening of the State University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH). Seven (7) other journalists were shot and injured that same day. They are: Robens PETION, Réginald BALTAZAR, Velondie MIRACLE, Florise DERONVIL, Jean-Jack ASPEGES, Jocelyn JUSTIN and Rosemond VERNET. They had all been invited by the then Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Duckenson Lorthe BLEMA, to attend the HUEH reopening ceremony, planned for the occasion https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43918-haiti-flash-bloody-inauguration-at-the-general-hospital-videos.html

The RNDDH recalls that in October 2024, in a video, gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue, clearly threatened to attack the press and journalists, "promising to judge them for all the harm they do to the country." He then invited his criminal partners and henchmen to systematically attack the media, going so far as to name certain journalists.

"If no measures are immediately adopted by the transitional authorities to end the terror of the armed gangs, the rest of the West Department will fall into the hands of armed bandits [...]"

HL/ HaitiLibre