The Presidency has learned with sadness the news of the death of Mr. Octanol Dérissaint, which occurred in Fonds Parisien, Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in circumstances not yet clear and present its sympathies to the family of the victim.

The Presidency of the Republic is very concerned by the alleged involvement of its Councillor Calixte Valentin in this case and hope that light will be shed about the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident occurred after an exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, it informs that Mr. Valentin was temporarily suspended from duty. The Presidency of the Republic, concerned about the respect of the human life and of the establishment of a rule of law in the country, launches an appeal for calm to the population of Fonds Parisien in general and to the family of the victim and especially encourages the use of dialogue and justice for the resolution of disputes, in this respect of individual liberties and of the rule of law.

The facts :

The Councillor Calixte Valentin is accused [by the victim's brother] of premeditated killing, last Wednesday, during a shootout, Octanol Dérissaint, a merchant of 32 years of Fonds Parisien, near the border haitiano-dominican. Calixte Valentin was heard Friday afternoon by the Government Commissioner of the Croix-des-bouquets, then led to the civil prison of Port-au-Prince. The Councillor Calixte recognizes, in this incident where a gunfight broke out, having fired shots into the air but rejects the allegations of murder whose the brother of the victim accused him. Supporters of Councillor, have protested strongly against his arrest and threaten to go to the streets to demand his release.

HL/ HaitiLibre