Human Rights Headlines
USA: Haitian colonel ordered to pay $4.3 million for human rights abusesFor Immediate Release
February 23, 2007
(Miami, Florida, February 23, 2007). A federal jury in Miami found Colonel
Carl Dorélien, a former member of the Haitian Military's High Command,
liable for torture, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention and crimes
against humanity suffered by plaintiffs Lexiuste Cajuste, Marie Jeanne
Jean and her two young children. Colonel Dorélien was ordered to pay a
total of $4.3 million to the plaintiffs in compensatory and punitive
damages.
Lexiuste Cajuste was arbitrarily detained and severely tortured by Haitian
military forces under Dorelien.s command because of his role as a union
organizer and pro-democracy activist. Miraculously, he survived the
beatings but, fourteen years after the ordeal, still suffers severe
physical disabilities relating to his torture. Upon learning of the jury's
verdict in his favor Cajuste stated, "Today I have finally found justice,
but I am only one person amongst an entire population who suffered abuses.
My wish is to see that all the people of Haiti receive justice." Cajuste
went on to say, "Although today's judgment was rendered against Colonel
Dorélien, I see this is as a judgment against the entire armed forces of
Haiti under the military dictatorship. This is a wonderful day for justice
for me and my family and for the Haitian people."
Marie Jeanne Jean lost her husband Michel Pierre during the massacre by
the Haitian military against the citizens of the Raboteau neighborhood in
the seaside city of Gonaives. Raboteau was known for being a stronghold of
pro-democracy activism. The Raboteau massacre was one of the worst
atrocities committed against the civilian population in Haiti while
Dorélien was part of the High Command. She brought this suit on behalf of
herself and her two minor children. "Today is a proud and happy day. This
judgment is not just for me and my family, but for all of the many victims
of the Raboteau Massacre. It is in their name that I am here in Miami
today," said Marie Jean about the jury's verdict.
Colonel Dorélien was a member of the High Command of the Haitian Armed
Forces during the military dictatorship in Haiti from 1991 to 1994.
Dorélien's presence in the U.S. became widely known after he won $3.2
million in the Florida state lottery in 1997. Dorélien, along with many
other members of the Haitian military, fled to the U.S. where they lived
with impunity. This case represents the first time that a U.S. jury has
held a former member of the Haitian military responsible for the
widespread human rights abuses that were committed by the military against
the civilian population.
Matt Eisenbrandt, CJA Legal Director and member of the trial team said,
"It is an honor to represent Marie Jean and Lexiuste Cajuste, their
courage is an inspiration. Justice has been served."
The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Justice and
Accountability (CJA) and Holland & Knight. CJA is a San Francisco-based
human rights organization that works to end impunity by bringing to
justice perpetrators of human rights abuses, especially those who live in
or visit the United States. www.cja.org. Holland & Knight is among the
world's 15 largest law firms, providing representation in litigation,
business, real estate and governmental law. www.hklaw.com.
For more information and background on the case, please visit www.cja.org.
--
HREA - http://www.hrea.org/
Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international
non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the
training of activists and professionals; the development of educational
materials and programming; and community-building through on-line
technologies.
USA: Haitian colonel ordered to pay $4.3 million for human rights abusesFor Immediate Release
February 23, 2007
(Miami, Florida, February 23, 2007). A federal jury in Miami found Colonel
Carl Dorélien, a former member of the Haitian Military's High Command,
liable for torture, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention and crimes
against humanity suffered by plaintiffs Lexiuste Cajuste, Marie Jeanne
Jean and her two young children. Colonel Dorélien was ordered to pay a
total of $4.3 million to the plaintiffs in compensatory and punitive
damages.
Lexiuste Cajuste was arbitrarily detained and severely tortured by Haitian
military forces under Dorelien.s command because of his role as a union
organizer and pro-democracy activist. Miraculously, he survived the
beatings but, fourteen years after the ordeal, still suffers severe
physical disabilities relating to his torture. Upon learning of the jury's
verdict in his favor Cajuste stated, "Today I have finally found justice,
but I am only one person amongst an entire population who suffered abuses.
My wish is to see that all the people of Haiti receive justice." Cajuste
went on to say, "Although today's judgment was rendered against Colonel
Dorélien, I see this is as a judgment against the entire armed forces of
Haiti under the military dictatorship. This is a wonderful day for justice
for me and my family and for the Haitian people."
Marie Jeanne Jean lost her husband Michel Pierre during the massacre by
the Haitian military against the citizens of the Raboteau neighborhood in
the seaside city of Gonaives. Raboteau was known for being a stronghold of
pro-democracy activism. The Raboteau massacre was one of the worst
atrocities committed against the civilian population in Haiti while
Dorélien was part of the High Command. She brought this suit on behalf of
herself and her two minor children. "Today is a proud and happy day. This
judgment is not just for me and my family, but for all of the many victims
of the Raboteau Massacre. It is in their name that I am here in Miami
today," said Marie Jean about the jury's verdict.
Colonel Dorélien was a member of the High Command of the Haitian Armed
Forces during the military dictatorship in Haiti from 1991 to 1994.
Dorélien's presence in the U.S. became widely known after he won $3.2
million in the Florida state lottery in 1997. Dorélien, along with many
other members of the Haitian military, fled to the U.S. where they lived
with impunity. This case represents the first time that a U.S. jury has
held a former member of the Haitian military responsible for the
widespread human rights abuses that were committed by the military against
the civilian population.
Matt Eisenbrandt, CJA Legal Director and member of the trial team said,
"It is an honor to represent Marie Jean and Lexiuste Cajuste, their
courage is an inspiration. Justice has been served."
The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Justice and
Accountability (CJA) and Holland & Knight. CJA is a San Francisco-based
human rights organization that works to end impunity by bringing to
justice perpetrators of human rights abuses, especially those who live in
or visit the United States. www.cja.org. Holland & Knight is among the
world's 15 largest law firms, providing representation in litigation,
business, real estate and governmental law. www.hklaw.com.
For more information and background on the case, please visit www.cja.org.
--
HREA - http://www.hrea.org/
Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international
non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the
training of activists and professionals; the development of educational
materials and programming; and community-building through on-line
technologies.
