Robenson Laraque

HAITI

Amid civil unrest, political turmoil, and spiraling violence, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere remained a very dangerous place for journalists. The fall of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 created a political vacuum; street gangs, drug traffickers, corrupt police, ex-soldiers from the disbanded military, and the ousted leader's supporters sought violently to fill it. Journalists found themselves targeted from several directions.

New York, April 7, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today urged Haitian and United Nations authorities to conduct a vigorous investigation into the shooting of a Haitian reporter who died this week from injuries suffered while observing a clash between UN troops and members of the disbanded Haitian military in the city of Petit-Goâve.

Robenson Laraque, a reporter with the private radio station Tele Contact, died Monday in a Cuban hospital, The Associated Press reported. Laraque was wounded on March 20 during a confrontation that began after the ex-soldiers occupied the police station in the southwestern city. The AP reported that three people, including a Sri Lankan peacekeeper, died in the gun battle.

APRIL 4, 2005
Posted: April 8, 2005

Robenson Laraque, Tele Contact
KILLED—CONFIRMED

Laraque, a reporter with the private radio station Tele Contact, died in a Cuban hospital from injuries suffered while observing a March 20 clash between UN troops and members of the disbanded Haitian military in the city of Petit-Goâve. The confrontation began after the ex-soldiers occupied the police station in the southwestern city. The Associated Press reported that three people, including a Sri Lankan peacekeeper, died in the gun battle.