Activist killed in Gonaïves had not worked for Haïti Progrès for past three years

The staff of the weekly newspaper Haïti Progrès have said that Johnson Edouard, who was killed on the night of 12 April in the north western city of Gonaïves, had not worked for the newspaper for about three years. The theory that he was murdered in connection with his political activism therefore seems more likely. Edouard was the regional representative of Fanmi Lavalas, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's party. ---------------------------------------- 15.04 - Second journalist in three months murdered
Reporters Without Borders expressed shock today at the “brutal murder” of the correspondent of the weekly paper Haïti Progrès, Johnson Edouard, in the northwestern city of Gonaïves on 12 April. “He may have been killed because of his work, the press freedom organisation said, noting that “Haiti is still one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the Americas.” Edouard was also a local official of the Fanmi Lavalas party. Gunmen broke into his home while he was sleeping and shot him in the head and chest before escaping through a window. A party official said he had been “executed” and claimed it was “not an isolated crime.” Freelance photographer Jean-Rémy Badiau was shot dead at his home in Martissant, a southern suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on 19 January after taking pictures of gang members.