Legislative
Deputy Bélizaire Released to the Parliament
- Friday, October 28, 2011 4:32 PM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Deputy Arnel Bélizaire (Delmas & Tabarre/Veye-Yo) was released from the National Penitentiary on Friday following an arrest at the international airport, the day prior.
Belizaire was led, surrounded by supporters, by police officers to the Haitian Parliament. Deputy Bélizaire made a V sign for "victory", reported a MP in the Parliament.
However, it is unclear if the lawmaker was released. Imprisoned last night, he is now in the House of Representatives with his colleagues.
Deputy Bélizaire upon returning to Haiti after a mission in Paris, France was arrested at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The care and respect of the rights of the representative of Delmas & Tabarre was ensured by a visit from Prime Minister Garry Conille.
Bélizaire did not sleep with the prison population but in the office of the penitentiary administrator.
On Friday, Minister of Justice Josue Pierre-Louis said he was not aware or in control of the actions of the Attorney General in Port-au-Prince, Félix Léger, who commissioned the warrant for arrest.
Parliamentarians including the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Sorel Jacinthe (Moron & Chamberllan/Inite) were all kept from entering the Diplomatic Room at the airport.
The arrest of Bélizaire is viewed as an unconstitutional act in that it conflicts with ARTICLE 114-2 and ARTICLE 115 of the Constitution of Haiti which provides immunity - requiring only colleagues in the chamber to remove it.
ARTICLE 114: Members of the Legislature are inviolable from the day they take oath up to the expiration of their term, subject to the provisions of article 115 below.
ARTICLE 114-2: No member of the Legislature shall be subject to civil imprisonment during his term of office.
ARTICLE 115: No member of the Legislature may during his term be arrested under ordinary law for a crime, a minor offense or a petty violation, except by authorization of the House of which he is a member, unless he is apprehended in the act of committing an offense punishable by death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights. In that case, the matter is referred to the House of Deputies or the Senate without delay of the Legislature is in session, and if not, it shall be taken up the next regular or special session.
Related 10.27.2011: Deputy Arnel Bélizaire Arrested while Under Parliamentary Immunity
Related 10.27.2011: Deputy President Sorel Jacinthe Blocked by Police at Airport
Related 10.27.2011: Police Determined to Execute Arrest Warrant for Deputy Bélizaire
Related 10.26.2011: Convoy of Parliamentarians to Meet Deputy Belizaire at Airport
Related 10.25.2011: Deputy Arnel Belizaire Letter on Altercation with Martelly
Related 10.24.2011: Deputy Belizaire Says Convicts in Entourage of Martelly
Related 10.17.2011: Martelly: "We must respect the presidency..."
