Re: WILSON MÉSILIEN AND LOVINSKY PIERRE-ANTOINE – Coordinator and interim coordinator of the Fondasyon Trant Septanm
To: President Rene Garcis Preval
From: Morris A. Chochla, LRWC
Date: 2008-01-31
I am writing, as a member of LRWC, in response to information received through Amnesty Internationals and other sources of the 30 September Foundation, is missing. It is believed he was abducted after leaving an American and Canadian delegation of human rights workers he was accompanying during their visit to Haiti. Mr. Pierre-Antoine went missing on August 12, 2007. We are gravely concerned for the safety of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine and accordingly urge you to take all possible steps to establish his whereabouts and bring the perpetrators of the abduction to justice.
Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine is entitled to the protection afforded by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Article 1 of the latter declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1998 provides that “every person has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfillment of human rights and fundamental liberties at the national and international level.”
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and deceit, receive and impart information and ideas throughout the media and regardless of frontiers.”
The declaration of rights and responsibility, in Article 2, states that each state has a prime responsibility and duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Once again, we urge you to investigate and advise LRWC by mail, email or fax of the actions the Government of Haiti is taking to:
1. Establish the whereabouts of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine;
2. Bring the perpetrators of the abduction to justice.
LRWC requests that you respond and give these issues your prompt attention.
