Associations of Haitian journalists denounced Tuesday the remarks made the day before by President Jovenel Moïse, in which the disputed head of state referred to gang members
"in disguise"
representing the media.
"Often gangs disguise themselves as demonstrators and journalists to attack our police officers on duty,"
assured Jovenel Moïse, who was speaking to the UN Security Council.
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For defenders of the press, these remarks risk exposing journalists to possible police brutality.
"The Head of State justifies and assumes all acts of brutality orchestrated by police against press workers,"
accuses the Association of Haitian Journalists (AJH).
"Jovenel Moïse at the same time exposed journalists to all forms of attack and aggression"
, worries the organization in a protest note.
In a statement Tuesday, the Haitian association of online media denounced
"vehemently the irresponsible speech of Jovenel Moïse".
The impunity from which armed gangs seem to benefit in the territory fuels the anger of Haitians against the authorities, accused of inaction or even of complicity with criminals.
His legitimacy being contested by the political opposition and a large part of civil society, Jovenel Moïse has faced repeated protests in recent weeks.
These gatherings were very often violently dispersed by police officers who regularly target clearly identified journalists with tear gas canisters.
Jovenel Moïse expressed Monday at the UN his wish to improve Haiti's rank in the world ranking of press freedom.
The Association of Haitian Journalists took the opportunity to recall the absence of legal advances concerning the latest cases of assassinations and disappearances of journalists.
The investigations into the murders of two journalists, murdered in June and October 2019, have not yet been concluded.
In the case of photojournalist Vladjimir Legagneur, missing for nearly three years during a report made in a sensitive area of the capital, the police have still not published the results of a DNA test which was allegedly carried out in March 2018 on the remains of a body.