Father Jerry Released from Prison!
Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee
December 15, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are deeply concerned about the continuing imprisonment and precarious health of Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste in Haiti. We urge you to take action to seek Fr. Jean-Juste's immediate release from prison and ensure that he is able to obtain the medical care he needs.
Fr. Jean-Juste is a widely respected Catholic priest and a courageous advocate for peace and justice. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his unconditional release. The injustice of his imprisonment is all the more blatant because of his failing health.
On December 1, Fr. Jean-Juste received a medical exam by Dr. John Carroll, who reported that he had swollen lymph n odes in his neck and arpits and an elevated white blood count. this could indicate one of several serious medical conditions, including a blood cancer or an infectious disease. many blood cancers have a good prognosis if they are treated early by specialists. It is therefor imperative that Fr. Jean-Juste be able to receive propt medical attention.
We respectfully request that you urge the Intermim Government of Haiti to release Fr. Jean-Juste immediately and enable him to obtain appropriate medical care. We appreciate your attention to our concerns. Your action at this critical time could save the life of this gentle priest.
Sincerely,
Maxime Waters
Barbara Lee
cc: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Special Representative Juan Gabirel Valdes, MINUSTAH
Ambassador Timothy M. Carney, U.S. Embassy in Haiti
Dana Banks, Human Rights Officer, U. S. Embassy in Haiti
Father Jean-Juste Has Pneumonia
I received this email from Bill Quigley on January 26, 2006. Bill was Father Jerry's US based attorney and Bill had visited Fr. Jerry in the National Penitentiary several times.
Brian Concannon is an attorney who is director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti.
Dr. Jennifer Furin was from Harvard Medical School and examined Fr. Jerry in prison and sounded the alert that Fr. Jerry was critically ill in prison and action was needed to save his life.
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 09:55:24 -0800 (PST)
From: bill quigley Reply-To: bill quigley To: "duprestars@yahoo.com" Subject: URGENT: Fr. Gerry has pneumonia
ACTION STEPS: call 1) Haiti's Ambassador to the U.S. Ray Joseph (202 332 4090), 2) U.S. State Dept Haiti Desk Officer Daniel Stewart (202 647-4755), 3) and the Human Rights Officer in the US Embassy in Haiti, Dana Banks, (011-509-223-0707 ext, 8270, or 011 509 222 0200), BanksD@state.gov.
Dear Mr. Concannon,
I am writing because I am deeply concerned about the health of Father Gerard Jean-Juste. I am currently in Port-au-Prince, where I have just examined Father Jean-Juste and am alarmed at the marked deterioration of his condition since I last saw him two weeks ago.As you know, Father Jean-Juste was diagnosed with leukemia a few weeks ago. This diagnosis was confirmed by Haitian physicians two weeks ago.
Since that time, his health has steadily deteriorated. Over the last four days he has had a fever and cough, and was diagnosed with pneumonia. His blood cell counts have dropped markedly due to the leukemia, and he appears extremely pale, fatigued, and with visible skin bruises due to his rapidly advancing disease.
While he has received some antibiotics in prison for the pneumonia, Father Jean-Juste requires immediate hospital-level care for this deteriorating condition. Further, given his precipitously low blood cell counts? significantly worse than two weeks ago?
it is imperative that he also receives immediate treatment for his leukemia. Without this treatment he will die in prison. There is no time to waste.
Thank you for any assistance you can provide for Father Jean-Juste.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Furin, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School
ACTION STEPS: call 1) Haiti's Ambassador to the U.S. Ray Joseph (202 332 4090), 2) U.S. State Dept Haiti Desk Officer Daniel Stewart (202 647-4755), 3) and the Human Rights Officer in the US Embassy in Haiti, Dana Banks, (011-509-223-0707 ext, 8270, or 011 509 222 0200), BanksD@state.gov.
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The next day I received this email from Brian Conacannon--
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Father Jean-Juste Released!
-----Original Message-----From: Brianhaiti
Sent: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 12:18:51 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: Fr. Gerry Released!
Fr. Gerry Released!
January 29, Noon ET
We have great news: Political prisoner Fr. Gerard-Jean-Juste, "Fr. Gerry" is right now on a plane in the air from Port-au-Prince to Miami. A cancer center in Florida has agreed to treat his leukemia, so he will get immediate attention for the cancer, as well as for the pneumonia he contracted this week.
Fr. Gerry was granted a provisional release, which requires him to return to Haiti after the treatment to face the charges still pending against him. The current charges against him are as baseless as the other charges which have been dismissed.
Fr. Gerry's lawyers at the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) have filed an appeal, asking for the charges to be dismissed. The appeals court can rule on the appeal without Fr. Gerry's presence, so it is possible that the case will be dismissed without requiring him to return to court. If he is forced to return to court, the BAI lawyers will continue to fight the charges. In the meantime, Fr. Gerry will be relatively safe, and will have his leukemia treated.
Doctors who have examined him are hopeful that his disease is at a stage where it can be successfully treated, but they cannot be certain without more tests.
Today's victory proves the Haitian proverb, "men anpil, chay pa lou-: many hands makes the load light. This mobilization has been by far the strongest and most persistent Haiti advocacy effort in the ten years that I have been involved in Haiti work. Everyone who called, faxed, wrote or emailed Haitian and US officials, everyone who signed a petition, everyone who forwarded information about Fr. Gerry to their church, their friends, and their family, should be proud. Close to a dozen human rights groups, over 50 members of the US Congress, and hundreds of religious, political and human rights leaders from all over the world joined together to make this moment possible.
Together we demonstrated that the world does care, that justice is possible, and that collective action does work. No small accomplishment.
Fr. Gerry said in a letter from prison on Friday:
"Understand that I wish you all to extend your support not only to me but to as many political prisoners as possible wherever on planet earth. Probably, you are aware that there are quite a number of political prisoners around the world. Think of them and keep them in your heart. I am very grateful to Amnesty International and to all of you for helping fight for the human rights of all political prisoners, here in Haiti and across the world. Let's keep the momentum on for justice, peace, love, and sharing to prevail all over the world as God wants it."
Today we should all take the time to pat ourselves on the back. But tomorrow we need to get back to work, to help the political prisoners that Fr. Gerry left behind in Haiti.
Peace,
Brian Concannon Jr., Esq.
Director
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
----
Email from Father Gerry in February 2006 after he had been released from prison in Port au Prince and hospitalized in Miami for treatment of his leukemia--
13 Feb 2006
Dear Dr. John,
Just a few words to greet you all. I am in Miami since Jan 29. Probably you have read about me. Please let's stay in touch. I want to hear from you, Maria, Raphaella and Mom. You may reach me at these numbers. Many thanks for your great support and prayers.
Yours in the Living God! Peace!
Gerry
My response to Father Gerry--(Raphaella was a small girl from his parish Father Gerry had us examine who had sustained severe burns. We were able to get her accepted at a hospital in Boston in 2005.)
14 Feb 2006
Dear Father,
Maria and I were thrilled when you were released from prison and hospitalized in Miami!! WE know you will beat this also. We have no doubt.
Raphaella and her mom are in Boston. The hospital is now saying that they won't operate on her until November!! This is unacceptable given her circumstances, Haiti's condition right now, etc. it took us from March at St. Claires' Parish until January to get Rahaella and her mother visas to come to the US. I called the hospital yesterday to plead her case.
I need to talk to you on the phone about this.
I will call. If you don't get my call, please call me at....Maria and I are in Cleveland now with a 15 month old Haitian boy from La Plaine who had heart surgery six days ago.
We do not want to send Raphaella back to Haiti without surgery.
Sincerely,
John and Maria
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After Father had been released from prison, he told the world that we cannot forget the many political prisoners remaining in Haiti including Yvon Neptune and Annette Auguste (So Anne).
----
Brian Concannon
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
Feb 1, 2006
Regarding Father Gerry's release from prison--
"The first person to thank is Father Gerry himself. His dedication to nonviolent struggle for the human rights of this hemisphere's most vulnerable people over two decades is an inspiration to us all.
"After Fr. Gerry, the people who risked the most were Mario Joseph and his legal team at the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, who fought for justice ian a manifestly unjust system, and the parishoners at Sainte Claire's Church, who never lost faith and kept Fr. Gerry's service programs running. Porfessor Bill Quigley, tethe doctors at Partners in health and Dr. John Carroll all kept at least one foot in Haiti, providing critical legal and medical services in prison, while providing the world with critical information about Fr. Gerry's status."
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