PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Mar 24, CMC – The Haitian-based SOS Journalistes Monday expressed it disappointment at what it termed “the arbitrary decision” of the government to “persistently impose a ban on an independent radio programme, without any due reason”.
In a statement, SOS Journalistes said it feared that such a “decision marks a sign of a return to dictatorship” and urged the international community to speak out on the matter.
The SOS Journalistes said that its secretary general, Joseph Guyler C Delva, has met and held discussions “on several occasions” with the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) about the need to allow the radio programme ‘Exchange Words’ (Boukante Lapawòl) to resume, but has been unsuccessful to date.
SOS Journalistes said that CPT President Fritz A. Jean, as well as his predecessor, Leslie Voltaire, had promised to order the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) to allow for the resumption of the very popular political radio talk show.
“On November 22, 2024, the CONATEL…demanded that the programme be suspended, threatening to simply revoke the functioning licence of Radio Mega,” the media group said.
It said during a meeting with SOS Journalistes last month, President Fritz Jean, voiced support for the lifting of the measure, but that has not yet materalised.
“The behaviour displayed by …the nine-member presidential council, is likely to fuel even more attacks on press freedom, as they invoke the excuse that journalists allow bandits to speak on the air.”
SOS Journalistes said that on the night of March 12 to 13, bandits have set the official headquarters of Radio Caraibes on fire. Fortunately, the management of the radio station had moved the station’s operations and part of its equipment to a safer district of the capital.
SOS Journalistes said Radio Melodie FM and Tele Pluriel were also attacked and ransacked, while nearly a dozen journalists, covering a street demonstration were assaulted by angry protesters, armed with machetes, batons and even firearms.
The … SOS Journalistes Haiti calls on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU) and
the United Nations to coerce the Haitian government into scrupulously respecting the right for Radio Mega to freely operate, as guaranteed by the constitution.
“SOS Journalistes believes that the CPT has no business telling journalists and the media what to say and which comments or analyses they should make on political and other issues. SOS Journalistes still insists on the obligation for Fritz Jean and the whole transitional regime to immediately remove the ban imposed on the independent radio programme,” it added.
CMC/gd/ir/2025.