By: Tom Luce - Hurah, Inc.

"My government respects the work of AUMOHD. I am going to do my best to help the victims." This is what Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis last week told Atty. Evel Fanfan, President of AUMOHD, a new, non-violent, non-partisan human rights advocacy group for the poor headquartered in Port-Au-Prince. AUMOHD has been urging the government to join the cause of poor innocent victims of violence from several regions in the country including the Capital, Central Plateau, and the North where AUMOHD has organized Community Human Rights Councils (CHRC) that are supporting hundreds of victims. Fanfan is very pleased that finally these victims who have no means to defend themselves have gained a commitment from the Préval administration. This collaboration came about through the services of long time advocate for the poor, Moïses Jean Charles, advisor to President René Préval, as part of a two-way "channel" he is setting up between the government and advocates of the poor.

AUMOHD has been working for the past four years successfully organizing Community Human Rights Councils (CHRC) that have the gained a reputation of trustworthiness because they adhere to non-violent, non-partisan practices and the upholding of the law. The CHRC with AUMOHD's legal assistance gather case histories to be given to government officials to assist in the pursuit of justice. These cases include some where the Haitian State itself--under the interim government of Gerard Latortue-- has been implicated in wrong doing. Each CHRC is composed of church, school, civic, and victim groups who advocate for justice for innocent victims of many murderous attacks from 2003 through 2006. Several meetings over the last three weeks have included the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, René Magloire (picture left), and Judiciary Affairs Director, Louis Jeune Jr. Moline who will accept combined lists in order to obtain maximum government impact.

Atty. Evel Fanfan, AUMOHD President (left) said on Friday, March 7, 2008, "We had a very good meeting with the Justice minister, Atty. Rene Magloire and the Judiciary Affairs Director, Atty. Louis Jeune Jr Moline. Representing the victims: Jean Pierre Frantzy brother of ALCIDAS Erinel murdered in the first Massacre August 20, 2005, Sylvane P. Paul mother of Denis Jean Mary and Saint Soi Fleurant murdered in the first massacre, Elina Bathelmy Mother of Nesdou, Magarette Jean Baptiste wife of Bruner Esterne murdered 22 september 2006, Denise Mathieu victim of house burning on 20 august 2005, Ducasse Marc LUCANN, victim of house burning 7 july 2006, Nicoles Dilorme victim of house burning (7 july 2006). "We're formulating reports now from the Central Plateau."

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See the Hurah website for details of the cases from Belladère and Lascahobas in the Central Plateau and visit HURAH's new petition.