25821: Anonymous: Re: 25811: Benodin: (comment) TWISTING THE TRUTH ABOUT JACQUES ROCHE (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Benodin's posting of Jean-Claude Jasmin's text makes very interesting reading. 
While many of the claims in this article are quite accurate, none of them 
confirm in any way that Father Jean-Juste is the murderer, intellectual or 
otherwise, of Jacques Roche. 
The whole thing resembles a political crime, and the best face we can put to it 
is to clearly state that what we have here from this government (of Latortue), 
is political justice. Nothing else. Nothing new either. 
While Father Jean-Juste uses what I personally consider to be extreme political 
language in this debate about the fate and future direction of Haiti, 
concluding that he killed journalist Jacques Roche is a bit over the top. 
The way that Roche died has the hallmark of possible extremists from the 
Lavalas camp. In the current political atmosphere, it thus makes perfect sense 
that Lavalas partisans ought to be considered prime suspects. To go from there 
and conclude, without a shred of either inferred or proven evidence, that 
Father Jean-Juste was the murderer is at best dubious, at worse dangerous and 
part of the classic Haitian political lynching. 
Haiti is living a period of political insanity, as usual of course. It only 
goes from bad to worse but no one is willing to admit that they had made their 
own mistakes in the process. Extremism is the rule and perhaps will always be, 
simply because it pays. Otherwise, why would so many vociferate instead of 
having serious and thoughtful debate over real matters of the State? 
Not even one day after the death of Jacques Roche for instance, the Minister of 
Culture of Haiti had already accused Lavalas of murder. Are they indeed 
investigating, or is their conclusion the only evidence they need to offer in 
order to convict? 
As hard as it may be for the numerous anti-Lavalas crowd to follow, these are 
the basic questions they have to answer first. How do you conclude without 
proof? 
In any case, can we blame the likes of Jasmin for his conclusion? Of course 
not. We can't. After all, the Minister of Culture herself, the Honorable 
Magalie Comeau Denis, had stated the same. Unfortunately, Jasmin has written 
about the lies being spread around without presenting a scenario in his article 
that clearly demonstrates that Jean-Juste is indeed the author of the horrific 
crime. Any reasonable person can and will attest to that but reason is not our 
forte, is it? 
Speaking extreme language in Haitian politics is nothing new. That's what pays; 
that's how one makes his and her fortune (political and otherwise). But thus 
far, we have yet to see anything good that comes out of this kind of extremism. 
Accusing (probably rightfully) Marguerite Laurent of Lavalas extremism does not 
make another less extreme in his views. The other side is as "extreme" as 
Laurent is. Voye monte is still paying off in Haiti, for either side. 
I am sure that should she set foot in Haiti, she will also be accused of having 
killed Jacques Roche, because she is rightfully considered very close to 
Aristide's point of view. Would that mean however, that Marguerite Laurent, 
Esq., is a crminal? Would this mean that she is indeed the author of the crime 
against Jacques Roche? Well, most on the list will probably conclude based on 
their political affiliation (Lavalas versus Convergence), which shows once more 
the aberrant nature of our politics. 
It is clear that for instance, that this "public clamor" had caused Father 
Jean-Juste some nice hitting in his head and face. But that's okay, isn't it, 
for he is not Pierre Paquiot the anti-Lavalas rector of university in Haiti. 
This was a different "public clamor". The Lavalas chimères were responsible for 
his injuries. That's Haiti's madness for you. That, it is. 
Either way, the essential point now is for the Haitian government to prove that 
Father Jean-Juste was indeed the author (intellectual or otherwise) of the 
murder of Jacques Roche. If proven, then the full weight of justice ought to be 
dropped on him. Otherwise, this is just one more case of aberrant stupidity in 
the Haitian political system. The executive branch decides before, and in some 
instances, in spite of the judiciary: the Neptune case has become a new classic 
in the repertory of our collective stupidity. 
Haiti makes no sense no more, not that it ever did but it's only getting worse. 
It seems sadly, that we haven't even reached the bottom yet. We seem to have a 
long way to go before we reach the very bottom. But by then, the world will 
probably laugh at us, simply. 
By the way, public clamor is no justice; it's only part of the judicial process 
until a judge and the written law can take over. Public clamor is no, I rewrite 
NO, substitute for justice. Now, the inexistent or failed Haitian State has to 
prove its investigative prowess by laying its case against Jean-Juste. If not, 
they'll have to free him. But that won't happen of course, Neptune too, is 
still in jail. 
Folks, if you think Haiti has reached its bottom yet, keep on dreaming. We 
sadly, very sadly got a long way to go.