Jean Morose Viliena, legal permanent resident in the United States living in Malden (Massachusetts) and former mayor of Irois in Haiti (Dept. Grand'Anse) 2006-2010 (appointed by Martelly) is the subject of a lawsuit which is was opened on March 13, in federal court in Boston.

The lawsuit filed against Viliena, by 3 Haitian citizens living in the United States David Boniface, the son representing his late father Nissage Martyr and Juders Yseme, includes allegations of torture, extrajudicial murder, attempted extrajudicial murder and arson in the town of Les Irois. They claim that they or their relatives have been violently persecuted by Viliena and her political allies.

This lawsuit is part of the "Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991", a US law that allows civil lawsuits to be brought in the United States against foreign officials alleged to have committed acts of torture or extrajudicial executions if all legal avenues in their home country have been exhausted.

Let's recall that according to the file that the plaintiffs filed, several criminal and civil complaints against Jean Morose Viliena were filed in the courts in Haiti and they tried in vain for nearly 10 years to obtain justice and that the accused be recognized responsible for his actions, but he was eventually released and never stood trial. Me Daniel McLaughlin, a lawyer for the plaintiffs declared "It is almost impossible to hold accountable [in Haiti] for acts of political violence committed by well-connected individuals [...] the level of impunity reigns throughout Haiti."

The plaintiffs accuse Viliena supporters of former President Michel Martelly, aided by an armed militia, of killing the brother of a man who accused Viliena of abuse of power, and attempting to kill two others during a a raid on a community radio station and torched 36 homes of his political opponents as stated at trial.

In documents filed in court before the trial, Viliena denied the allegations and asked the judge to rule in her favor on the lack of evidence. Judge Allison Burroughs denied Viliena's motion for summary judgment, citing "the weakness, politicization and corruption of the Haitian justice system" and the risk of retaliation for plaintiffs if they pursue legal remedies in Haiti.

SL/ HaitiLibre