Journalists in Haiti demand justice, bury 2nd colleague killed by gangs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — 

The young lad wore a suit and bow necktie to his stepfather's ceremonial Saturday, wherever helium demanded a handkerchief and wiped tears disconnected his mother's look arsenic they buried Marckendy Natoux, 1 of 2 journalists killed by gangs successful Haiti.

Natoux was fatally changeable connected Christmas Eve successful 1 of the worst attacks connected the property successful the troubled Caribbean country, with gangs opening occurrence during what was expected to beryllium the reopening of Haiti's largest nationalist hospital.

The 42-year-old begetter of 2 spoke 4 languages and worked for respective section and U.S. media outlets. He besides taught English and Spanish and was known for his kindness.

"Natoux was a protector of journalists," recalled Oriol Jacklin, a writer with Radio Regard FM. "He worked with everyone and respected everybody."

Natoux did selling for Voice of America's Creole work and worked for the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Boston Caribbean Network, among others.

On December 24, helium traveled to downtown Port-au-Prince with different journalists to screen the anticipated reopening of Haiti's General Hospital, which gangs had pillaged. Shortly aft helium arrived, gunmen opened fire.

"He was killed for bringing quality to the world," said Natoux's colleague, René Celias.

Johnson "Izo" Andre, considered Haiti's astir almighty pack person and portion of the Viv Ansanm conjugation of gangs that person taken power of 85% of Port-au-Prince, posted a video connected societal media claiming responsibility. He said helium had not authorized the hospital's reopening.

Natoux's colleague, Jacalin, besides blamed the authorities for the attack, which led to the wellness curate being replaced.

"You shouldn't invitation idiosyncratic to screen a media lawsuit successful an country you cognize is dangerous," Jacalin said. "The negligence of the authorities took the beingness of 2 journalists, 1 constabulary serviceman and near 5 different journalists with slug wounds and awaiting surgeries."

Also killed was Jimmy Jean, a 44-year-old begetter of six who worked for the online quality outlet Moun Afe Bon. He was buried Thursday.

Robest Dimanche, spokesperson for the Online Media Collective, a radical that defends the rights of online journalists successful Haiti, said Natoux was "full of endowment and integrity" arsenic helium condemned some killings.

"This was a precise acheronian day," helium said. "We are asking the authorities to not fto this transgression spell unpunished."

But it's improbable those liable volition beryllium brought to justice.

Last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked Haiti arsenic 1 of the apical offenders worldwide successful letting journalists' murders spell unpunished. At slightest 7 murders stay unsolved since 2019.

Natoux and Jean were among the much than 5,600 radical reported killed crossed Haiti past twelvemonth contempt the motorboat of a United Nations backed ngo led by Kenyan constabulary to assistance quell pack violence.

On Saturday, an further 217 Kenyan officers arrived to articulation 400 others who arrived past twelvemonth arsenic the U.S. and different countries question a U.N. peacekeeping mission, informing that the existent ngo lacks backing and personnel.

As friends and household mourned Natoux connected Saturday, his tiny stepson utilized a handkerchief to hitch tears disconnected his mother's look and past wiped his ain arsenic a household person cradled the boy's caput and whispered thing successful his ear.

When the ceremonial ended, loved ones lifted Natoux's coffin precocious into the air. One workfellow placed his manus connected the Haitian emblem draped implicit it arsenic anguished wails filled the church.