Antoine Izméry facts for kids
Antoine Izméry (died 11 September 1993) was a Haitian businessman and a strong supporter of democracy. He worked hard to bring fair government back to Haiti.
A Champion for Democracy
Antoine Izméry came from a family of Palestinian background and was one of the richest people in Haiti. He was a major supporter of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and helped pay for his election campaign.
Before the 1990 elections, which Aristide eventually won, Izméry spoke out. He suggested that former President of the United States Jimmy Carter seemed to be trying to help Aristide's opponent, Marc Bazin, win. He even warned a US official, Robert S. McNamara, that if the election was unfair and Bazin won, it could lead to violence.
When President Aristide was removed from power by a military takeover (a coup) in 1991 and had to leave the country, Izméry didn't give up. He started an organization called KOMEVEB (Komite Mete men pou Verite Blayi). This group worked to find out what really happened during the coup and to help bring back a fair government.
In 1992, Antoine's brother, Georges Izméry, was killed by an armed group linked to the new government. Antoine Izméry then complained to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about his brother's death. This led to the commission strongly criticizing the situation in Haiti.
His Tragic Death
On 11 September 1993, Antoine Izméry went to a special church service. This service was organized by KOMEVEB to remember the St Jean Bosco massacre in 1988, where many people were killed during an attack on Aristide when he was a priest.
Not many journalists or human rights workers dared to attend this service. There was a high chance that armed groups might attack such a gathering. Izméry himself told a reporter that the police had warned him there would be trouble if the event went ahead.
Around 6:00 am, the church was surrounded by armed men in regular clothes. Many journalists were beaten and held by these men, who were led by Jackson Joanis from the Port-au-Prince police's "Anti-Gang Unit." While this was happening, about 10 men forced Izméry outside. They made him kneel, and then he was shot and killed with a single bullet to the head.
The Trials for Justice
In September 1995, after President Aristide had returned to power, a trial was held for Izméry's death. Fourteen people were found guilty, even though they were not present at the trial. These included former armed group leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain and police officers Jackson Joanis and Michel François. They were sentenced to forced labor for life. Chamblain quickly left Haiti for the Dominican Republic, and Joanis went to the United States.
Joanis was later sent back to Haiti in 2002, but he escaped during the 2004 Haiti rebellion that happened before Aristide was removed from power again.
In early 2004, both Chamblain and Joanis gave themselves up to the new government, which they supported. On 17 August 2004, they had a new trial. This trial lasted only one night, and both men were found not guilty. Only one witness spoke for the prosecution. This trial was strongly criticized by international groups like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International. Amnesty International said that important witnesses were hiding because they feared for their lives. They also claimed that evidence from the first trial against the men had disappeared, and no effort was made to arrest the other twelve people from the original trial.
Antoine Izméry is remembered by his five children, three girls and two boys.
Film About Resistance
- Rezistans – a documentary film about Antoine Izméry and the fight against the 1991 military takeover. It was made in 1997, is 158 minutes long, and is by Katherine Kean.
