By Defenders of the Oppressed (DOP), August 14, 2013, published on Under Tents, August 19, 2013
It is unbelievable but true: Patrice Florvilus, lawyer and director of the social movement legal support group ”Défenseurs des Opprimées/Opprimés (Defenders Oppressed) or DOP, has been summoned to appear in court on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM. Florvilus is accused of arson and conspiracy by Reynold Georges, lawyer of former dictator Jean Claude Duvalier.
We want to highlight that Mr. Florvilus represents oppressed people in Haiti, particularly social movements and those living in displacements camps since the 12 January 2010 earthquake.
The residents of Camp ACRA, located just a few meters from the police station on Delmas 33, were victims of police brutality on April 15, 2013. According to statements made by the people affected, Reynold Georges visted the camp on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at around 2:30 p.m., accompanied by a justice of peace and a policeman, and ordered residents to vacate or else be evicted forcibly. Witnesses say Reynold Georges used a gun to intimidate people in the camp and arrested two (2) people who were then released due to strong public pressure. Mr. Georges was attempting to claim part of this land, which has been occupied by displaced people since January 12, 2010, on behalf of former dictator Jean Claude Duvalier.
On Monday, April 15 at 2 a.m., a fire broke out in Camp ACRA. Residents awoke suddenly and did not know what to do. A delegation from the camp went to the police to seek their assistance. Shockingly, the police officers said they did not have the means to help the camp residents. This is when the population mobilized to try to find the perpetrators. Around 5 a.m., a policed patrol intervened and arrested Darlin Lexima and Meris Civil. After being tortured, Meris Civil died in police custody at Delmas 33. Darlin Lexima was released due to the intervention of Attorney Patrice Florvilus, who continues to represent the victims’ families.
Since April 15, Attorney Florvilus has received various death threats. Amnesty International issued an action alert about the threats. It should be noted that Mr. Florvilus is also part of the team of lawyers representing victims of the Duvalier dictatorship.
For the purposes of memory and history, we want to highlight:
On April 15, 2013, at 8 a.m., a police car (1-493) tailed Mr. Florvilus from Delmas 24 to Pouplard Avenue. One of the police officers in the vehicle attempted to block Mr. Florvilus and change the direction in which he was driving.
- On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, the same police car was parked in front of the entrance of Mr. Florvilus’s office.
- On Friday, April 19, 2013, the same car tailed Florvilus from Champs de Mars to Canapé Vert.
- On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, two unidentified people entered the office and demanded to know whether it was the office of DOP. They left a warning for Florvilus that he should not foot in his office.
- On Wednesday, August 7, 2013, an individual identifying himself as Jimmy Dorange, and claiming to be a member of the Haitian police (SDPJLO), entered the DOP office asking for Florvilus. At this time, the Meris Civil and Darlin Lexima case was already in the judge’s chambers.
- On Sunday, August 11, 2013, at 8:15 AM, two people wearing glasses were stationed in front of DOP’s gate and two more across the street approached a staffmember of DOP (Frena Florvilus), questioned and threatened her.
It is in this context that Mr. Reynold Georges has summoned Patrice Florvilus and four others to the public prosecutor of Port-au-Prince on charges of arson and conspiracy.
Accompanied by his lawyers, Attorney Florvilus is resolved to appear in court on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., to respond to the charges of Georges Reyneld Duvalier and others in power.
Watch a two-minute statement here (with English subtitles) by Patrice Florivus to assembled media inPort au Prince on August 16.