PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
(323) 757-8900
February 23, 2005


CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS URGES PRESIDENT BUSH
TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER YVON NEPTUNE
AND FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER JOCELERME PRIVERT,
OBTAIN THEIR RELEASE FROM PRISON IN HAITI
AND OFFER THEM POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES


            Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent a
letter to President Bush, urging him to take immediate action to protect the
lives of Haiti's former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and former Interior
Minister Jocelerme Privert, obtain their release from prison in Haiti and
offer them political asylum in the United States.  Copies of the letter were
sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Ambassador James Foley, the
U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.  The text of the letter follows:



            I write to urge you to take immediate action to protect the
lives of Haiti's former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and former Interior
Minister Jocelerme Privert, obtain their release from prison in Haiti and
offer them political asylum.  I am deeply concerned that their lives are in
danger, and I am willing to accept personal responsibility for bringing
Ministers Neptune and Privert to the United States.



            Last Saturday, Prime Minister Neptune and Minister Privert
survived a violent revolt at the National Penitentiary.  According to
reports, the revolt began with the firing of heavy automatic weapons at the
main gate of the prison and the sudden disappearance of all the guards. In
the ensuing chaos, one guard was killed and almost 500 prisoners left the
prison.  It remains unclear how such a massive prison break could have taken
place in downtown Port-au-Prince just three blocks from the national palace
and police headquarters.  However, several witnesses claimed that the
attackers appeared to be police officers.


            During the revolt, Ministers Neptune and Privert were forcibly
removed from the prison at gunpoint.  They immediately called on United
Nations authorities to guarantee them a safe return to the prison.  They
were returned to the prison by the United Nations authorities within hours
after the end of the revolt.



            I fear that Ministers Neptune and Privert will be killed if the
United States does not intervene immediately to protect their lives.
Saturday's prison revolt was not the first time the lives of these two
former Haitian officials have been endangered since they were imprisoned
without charge in spring of last year.  Last November, according to press
reports, several Haitian police officers were involved in a plot to kill
imprisoned Lavalas supporters, including Minister Neptune and Minister
Privert.  Furthermore, on December 1, there was a massacre in the National
Penitentiary.  I have recently been informed that Ministers Neptune and
Privert have begun a hunger strike following Saturday's prison revolt and
vowed not to eat until the injustice and insecurity of their confinement is
addressed. 



          The United States has a unique opportunity to save the lives of
former Prime Minister Neptune and former Interior Minister Privert, and I am
making a desperate plea for their safety.



            I implore you to intervene immediately to protect Prime Minister
Neptune and Minister Privert, obtain their release from prison and offer
them asylum in the United States.  I would appreciate it if you would
contact me as soon as possible to discuss the fate of these two individuals,
and I look forward to your prompt response.