© 2005 Colin O'Connor

The Forgotten Women Prisoners of Haiti

Port au Prince (HIP) - Two days before the inauguration of Rene Preval, solidarity activists met with Annette Auguste for more then an hour and a half in the women's prison in Petion-Ville. Annette Auguste, AKA So Ann, has been held since May 10, 2004 and has been deemed a political prisoner by Amnesty International who finally took up her cause late last year.. During the visit she gave her view of political events and the electoral defeat of the political forces that ousted Aristide. She also reiterated that she would not accept a presidential pardon. She hoped that the new government would force a corrupt and politicized judiciary to give her a fair trial where the truth of her innocence can be seen by the entire world.

As this feisty and resolute Grandmother continued her dialogue, HIP founding editor Kevin Pina used the opportunity to organize the prisoners of the Woman's Penitentiary in Petion-Ville to create a list with their names, date of incarceration and the place they were arrested. The vast majority of the women prisoners on this list have never seen a judge in violation of the Haitian Constitution. Most consider themselves political prisoners and were arrested by the Haitian police and/or the United Nations forces after they went to their neighborhoods in search of their fathers, brothers, husbands and boyfriends. Several said they believe their arrest was in lieu of the authorities finding their men folk and said it constituted a kidnapping.

This is only a partial list of the women prisoners held in Petion-Ville as time did not permit us to record everyone's information. HIP offers this partial list in hopes that international human rights organizations will take the initiative and muster up the courage to come to Haiti and complete it. The first job of real human rights work should be to identify the victims of political persecution. The second job should be to take the testimony of the victims to ascertain its validity. These women have lots to say if only anyone would listen.

	NAME		DATE ARRESTED	AGE
1		Darline Jean	January 7, 2005	17
2		Medine Joseph	February 14, 2005	19
3		Adline St. Julies	April 9, 2005
4		Gladys Bomptemps	June 27, 2005	23
5		Gislene Julio	October 11, 2005	40
6		Marie Andre Lucas	July 4, 2005	28
7		Prudeut Daphney	September 22, 2004	20
8		Daphnee Bien
9		Jean Georgy	March 24, 2005	24
10		Jean Magretta	January 11, 2006	28
11		Danise Daniel	September 27, 2004	30
12		Geurline Joseph	March 25, 2005	24
13		Joyeuse Edmonst	September 3, 2004	22
14		Loudjina Ernest		17
15		Roseline Estimee	December 1, 2005	17
16		Kethly Pierre	July 26, 2005	15
17		Kethia Sejour	June 27, 2004	21
18		Carline Louis	August 25, 2005	24
19		Marie Loudie	December 5, 2005	18
20		Yoline Guillaume	March 8, 2005
21		Mirlande Monteruil		27
22		Geurrier Janime	March 17, 2005	60
23		Yousy Alphonse
24		Jorelyne Champagne	March 30, 2006
25		Nicole Geurrier	July 5, 2005
26		Saintrose Jean Louis	December 24, 2004
27		Leonne LaFortune	October 4, 2005
28		Kathia Comlulis	March 30, 2005
29		Johanne Monsrum	March 6, 2005
30		Pierre Geurlange	February 4, 2004
31		Sherley Louis	February 26, 2006
32		Manetto St. Paul	October 27, 2005
33		Chantal Midi	August 10, 2005	44
34		Henriette Starck	November 7, 2004	28
35		Stephanie Moise	May 28, 2005	21
36		Loxis Marjorie	July 3, 2005	18
37		Rosemarie Aleseis
38		Mona Pierre		20
39		Johanne Theiniedor
40		Augustine Gersy	October 31, 2005	17
41		Michel Miollie	September 8, 2005	15
42		Rosmie Beruadin	February 24, 2005	23
43		Magdalina Honoie	July 18,2005	75
44		Fasie Franlois	June 17, 2005	19
45		Marielyne Dwusthan	October 31, 2005	23
46		Marlia Cades	July 19, 2005	37
47		Roseline Laurent	July 4, 2005	22
48		Olerua Felix	April 29, 2005	40
49		Maliya Frederic	March 23, 2006	24
50		Sonia Jean	March 1, 2005	17
51		Michaelle Lemoine	August 12, 2005	23
52		Nounoune Jean Baptiste
53		Jean Pierre Mirline	August 22	26
54		Linda Jean	March 8, 2005	17
55		Nadige Lusce	August 17, 2005	15
56		Soledade Derarene	May 31, 2005
57		Gurlande Charle	November 2, 2005	15
58		Charle Marise	January 6, 2005	95
59		Rose Laure Folnia	March 26, 2006	14
60		Liline Bien-Aimee	March 8, 2005	15
61		Molena Leger	March 8, 2005	21
62		Venese Baptiste	November 1, 2005	22
63		Doisla Melana	April 8, 2005	22
64		Lemoine Michaelle	December 22, 2005
65		Tina Valmond	August 12, 2005	28
66		Guetty Charles	August 12, 2005	23
67		Gladis Bontemps	June 27, 2005	23
68		Lourent Reseline	July 4	22
69		Johanne Jean	July 10, 2005	20
70		Tamara Celestin	July 10, 2005	18
71		Rose-Andre Seide	May 7, 2005	23
72		Lucienne Moiseage	November 12, 2005	53
73		Kettia Sejour	June 27	21
74		Carline Louis	August 25, 2005	24
75		Villia Celestin	July 10, 2005	20
76		Molina Leger	March 8, 2005	21
77		Alexis Nadia	April 9, 2005	27
78		Marie-Lucie Paul	August 20, 2005	21
79		Venise Louis Charles	December 14, 2005	56
80		Ludy Dauphin	June 21, 2005	30
81		Barbara Romero	April 6, 2006	25
82		Nounon Lean Baptiste	April 29, 2005	20
83		Jesula Joseph	September 25, 2004	34
84		Ketia Jean	January 23, 2005	20
85		Joceline Valerice	October 16, 2005	35
86		Vercelia Onoroble	October 15	45
87		Odette Louisaint	June 19	39
88		Rolaine Dothiy	September 19, 2004	31
89		Celina Matieu	November 28	52
90		Marie Fanese Cherilus	February 10, 2005	23
91		Francois Fagdala	July 18, 2005	27
92		Auestation Rose-Andre	May 7, 2005	23
93		Merina Lena	April 11, 2006	25
94		Marie Lucie Paul	October 12, 2005	42
95		Manoushca August	September 11, 2005
96		Pierre Carline	June 30, 2005
97		Alexi Rosemarie	March 20, 2005
98		Mesidor Beatrice	June 23, 2005	24
99		Louis Alserte	March 23, 2006	25
100		Marimichelle Debra	January 24, 2006	14
101		Jesula Josephe	September 25, 2004	34
102		Wilda Valsin	June 1, 2004
103		Edmont Derline	February 3, 2005	42
104		Linda Dersous	September 11, 2005	24
105		Daphner Bien Aime	February 3, 2005	23
106		Gutorier Joanie	September 4, 2005	28
107		Nancy Edouard	February 27, 2006	26
108		Benita Duihene	April 29, 2004	43
109		Mariefonese Cherlies	February 10, 2005
110		Janit Poillant	May 26, 2006	25
111		Aelene Jules	May 24, 2005	41
112		Sutoinette Jeune	September 18, 2005	35
113		Soliska Joseph	June 2005	61
114		Vadette Saint Minitart	April 14, 2006	24
115		Suze Michel	January 12
116		Herria Percine	January 17, 2005	26
117		Aline Josephe	February 5, 2005	33
118		Andrina Pelior	February 22, 2005	18
119		Juena Pseril		24
120		Aelene Jules	May 24, 2005	41
121		Losis Marie Josette	July 3, 2005	18
122		Marie Sutinette Jeune	September 29, 2006	35
123		Henrietta Starok		28
124		Sauentna Roy Enasere	July 27, 2005	31
125		Bibine Alexi	September 12
126		Leusna Dous	February 22