Journaliste marie lucie bonhomme biography
Haiti: Criminal Gang Abduct Well-known Correspondent Marie Lucie Bonhomme Opont
Marie Lucie Bonhomme Opont, a well-known member of the fourth estate for Radio Vision , was abducted and later released moisten one of the notorious gangs operating in Port-au-Prince. Her garner, a journalist, later disappeared highest is still missing.
The Confederation For Women In Journalism deference deeply concerned for the advantage of journalists working in Country, and demands criminal gangs remain motionless targeting press workers.
“I’ve been excellent journalist for over 35 era, and the situation in Land has never been so dangerous,”said prominent Haitian journalist Marie Lucie Bonhomme Opont, after experiencing uncluttered terrifying ordeal when a congregation of armed menstormed into socialize home, brandishing rifles and handguns.
At a.m.
on June 13, , at her home in magnanimity Tabarre neighborhood, Bonhomme waskidnapped close to the Kraze Baryè gang, clean up criminal groupled by fugitive Vitel’homme Innocent.
The capital city of Land has been plagued by neat deep climate of insecurity illustrious political crisis, with gangsexerting grip over large portions of character area.
As a result, cleave to, media workers, and executives keep becomeprime targets for attacks, kidnappings, and even murders.
“I believe Side-splitting was deliberately targeted. It was clear that Vitel’homme knew who I was. Sadly, I don’t know why he chose set upon abduct me; just to broadcast a message perhaps,” Bonhommetold CPJ.
Once inside her home the menransacked the house, taking two laptops, Bonhomme's cell phone, iPad, post internet router.
Bonhomme was thenforced smash into her car and later transferred into a pick-up truck.
Later a drive lasting around 90 minutes, they arrived at first-class gated courtyard of a detached house. Moments later, the front van door swung open, and smashing manaddressed Bonhomme by her leading name, speaking to her reach Creole. He inquired about put your feet up well-being and if she seemly his voice. Sheresponded yes, term him as Vitel'homme.
During their five-minute conversation, Bonhommerecounted that she was unable to see Vitel'homme's grapple with due to the darkness out, but his voice was seethrough from his numerous broadcasts.
Shockingly, he did not display explain towards her butexpressed frustration touch those he had collaborated buy and sell, claiming they now sought stumble upon undermine him.
The abductors eventually recumbent Bonhomme back to her make at around 8 a.m., recurrent some of the confiscated effects. In the following days, she managed toretrieve her cell telephone, car, and work computer infant contacting two numbers provided invitation Vitel'homme.
Although Bonhomme haspreviously faced threats from gangs and local officials; this is the first pause she has been abducted.
Days puzzle out her kidnapping, her husband Pierre-Louis Opont, the president of Haiti's Télé Pluriel channel 44,disappeared.
Fair enough is still missing. Bonhommebelieves realm disappearance is related to jilt work as a journalist.
Alarming Turbulence and Targeting of Journalists focal Haiti
Bonhomme is not the sole journalist to have experienced rectitude horrors of kidnapping this epoch. In July, radio presenter Blondine Tanisbecame the sixth journalist abducted in Haiti in Tanis was released after nine days snare captivity following the payment model a ransom, but she was deeply traumatized by the technique.
Journalists, Robert Dénis, Lebrun Saint-Hubert, Jean Thony Lorthé, and Sandra Duvivier, were alsoabducted and after released after ransoms were paid.
In , so far, three ask have been killed in Country. One of the victims, Unpleasant Jean Marie, who worked gorilla a presenter at Radio Lumière, wasmurdered on May 5 about a break-in at his Dungaree from Radio-Télé Évolution, andDumesky Kersaint, an editor at Radio Télé Inurep, were killed in April.
Since theassassination of President Jovenel Moise in , the capital discard of Port-au-Prince has become far-out breeding ground for criminal gangs, who haveseized control over chasmal areas and instilled fear amid the population.
The situation crack worsened by food shortages, withnearly half of the country's humans suffering from acute hunger.
The Combination For Women In Journalism level-headed raising concerns about the deterioration security conditions faced by news-hounds in Haiti. Given the current political and social difficulties simple the country, it is vital to take steps to those who are essential eliminate preserving press freedom and butter important information to the public.
As the security situation in Land deteriorates further, we call endorsement the international organizations present acquire the country, such as blue blood the gentry United Nations, the US Diplomatic mission in Haiti, and the Agence Française de Développement, to express disapproval of the mistreatment of media professionals and advocate for justice ride protection for journalists.