These death threats against several journalists in the country, including several within the ZoomHaïtiNews media, are the result of acts of intimidation and obvious violence suffered by one or another worker in the press.
Ronel Paul, multi-awarded journalist, a price to pay
He is one of the few journalists of this new generation in the City of Independence who is so prolific and present. He is on all the political and social issues of importance. He gives himself no limits in reporting, going even to the most remote places in search of information. This is what allowed him to win several important journalistic awards, including the first edition of the AHJEDD 2021 Award, a national competition of reports on the economy and finance in Haiti conducted by the Haitian association of economic journalists for sustainable development (AHJEDD). He was nominated in the audiovisual category for his report entitled “Anarchic urbanization and its consequences on rice production in the Gonaives plain. He also won, in 2021, the audiovisual category of the 7th edition of the Young Journalist Prize in Haiti organized by the International Organization of the Francophonie and its partners. “Cohabiting at all costs with illegal dumping. What are the consequences?” is the title of the reportage that awarded this last prize to Ronel Paul, which at the same time allowed him to do an internship of one month at the television BF1 in Burkina Faso. By dint of being on various topics of reporting causing uproar, the journalist is now subject to serious threats.
Also a correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Ronel Paul, who goes by the name Petit Canada, is now forced to limit his travels. The threats are becoming more frequent. Before reaching social networks, they started with direct intimidation by phone, then veiled indications not to deal with this or that subject.
Then there is this individual on Facebook who calls himself James Joseph. He commented after a Ronel Paul report on the situation of women who work in sand quarries in these words.
<<Jounalis sa yo rele Ronel Paul la pa janm vann bèl imaj de peyi a. Valè bèl kote peyi a genyen poukisa se bagay sal yo ap vann sou entènèt se sak fè lòt peyi pap respè pou nou an wi. Kelkeswa kote m kwaze w map fè tèt ou tande ou mèt poze. Media sa ki rele ZoomHaitiNews sa sepou blanc lap travay.>> / Journalist Ronel Paul has never presented a beautiful picture of the country on the Net. The country has so many beautiful places. Why does he have to present dirty places in the country? That is why other countries do not respect us. No matter where you think you are, I’m going to plunge your head. Be calm. ZoomHaïtiNews Media works for the white man.>>
There is also a certain Edouard Augustin again on Facebook who commented by writing:
<<You go and film all the dirty places in the country so you can sell to the white people, to make money off the heads of the assholes. The only thing I can say to this journalist who wants to sully the image of the country is to remember that he still lives in Gonaives. Alix Joseph has done more than you
As you may recall, journalist Alix Joseph was killed by 11 bullets a few meters from his house on Rue Liberté in Gonaïves in the presence of his wife, Josiane Pelissier.
Between the messages of intimidation, suspicious calls and serious comments on social networks, the journalist Ronel Paul says he is very worried for his life and his family.
In a country where people are killed and kidnapped on every street corner, a country where firearms circulate without any control, I am really worried about these threats,” he wrote.
Charilien Jeanvil, beaten, threatened with execution for being director of online media
General Director of the online media ZoomHaïtiNews, Charilien Jeanvil has been experiencing bad days for several months. The threats were on a smaller scale, starting with intimidation. That’s why he didn’t worry about them much. By dint of repetition, they became more and more serious until the day when he, accompanied by his little brother and a friend was a victim of Kidnaping on June 28, 2021. The bandits beat him severely that evening and ordered him to stop the work he was doing either as a journalist or as the general manager of the online media. Otherwise, he will be killed.
It should be noted that before being victimized by Kidnaping, Social Communicator Charilien Jeanvil was receiving threats from an individual who bombarded him with calls, giving him precise information on all his doings.
Also a sports journalist at Télé Pluriel, Charilien Jeanvil, in addition to limiting his movements, is forced to live in difficult conditions, in fear, insecurity and anxiety.
Guervens Ricardo Jean-Jacques, threatened with execution because of sensitive issues
Former Reporter of Radio Télé Kiskeya, the journalist Guervens Ricardo Jean-Jacques after having resigned, had to keep a low profile for a long time before getting back on track to continue to profess the profession for which he is passionate.
This was without counting on the text messages he would receive.
Subsequently, the press worker, recipient of a special mention from the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), as part of the Young Haitian Journalist Award in 2017, was going to complicate his situation at the time of asking questions in press conferences, then in the treatment of some sensitive files.
Trained in Investigative Journalism, Guervens Ricardo Jean-Jacques was working on several cases related to Banditry and Rape, involving important personalities. His work was taken away and evidence with it. Indeed, also editor and presenter at ZoomHaïtiNews, the journalist has been the victim of burglary on several occasions. His working materials were targeted. The news anchor also narrowly escaped an attempt to Kidnap him on his way to work.
For security reasons, the ZoomHaïtiNews editorial staff has decided to withhold certain information about these employees.
In addition, it is important to mention that the CEO of ZoomHaïtiNews, Emmanuel Paul, receives death threats all day long. The fact that he founded this media outlet does not seem to please many people. Some thugs have gone so far as to order him to stop everything.
In the meantime, we recommend that the competent authorities ensure the safety of all citizens and call on them to guarantee the free movement of everyone and allow all journalists to exercise their profession in peace.
It should be noted that the list of journalists threatened with execution or victims of any kind of violence is very long.
Thus, it is possible to wonder why professing the profession of journalist in Haiti automatically means being the object of threats or execution.
This must stop!
The Editor.