n a note dated February 10, Me Jean Renel Sanon, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, indicates that "in order to preserve the achievements of the rule of law, he has the duty to remind everyone that the Haitian penal legislation severely punishes the defamation, threats and incitement to violence. Consequently the authors both material and intellectual of such reprehensible acts will fall within the scope of Articles 64, 313 and 321 of the Haitian Penal Code, and Articles 18, 22 and 23 of the Decree of 31 July 1986 on the press and the repression of press offenses.

The Ministry of Justice believes that intolerance and violence are totally incompatible with the democratic values to which we all attach."

Without making explicit reference in his note to the National Carnival, there is no doubt that this reminder, just at the opening of carnival festivities, is not a coincidence...

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre