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[Joe the Haitian]

A former Miami priest jailed in Haiti is weak and needs medical help but was in good spirits two days after collapsing in his prison cell, said a U.S. lawyer who visited him Tuesday.

The Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, who led Haitian community groups in Miami before he moved to his native country, lost consciousness on Sunday for about 20 minutes in his tiny cell, said Loyola University professor Bill Quigley.

''He told me he thought he almost died on Sunday,'' said Quigley, who is working with Jean-Juste's Haitian lawyers to secure his release.

''He's sick, there is no doubt about it,'' Quigley said. ``There is something [wrong] with him, and I think it's very serious when a man near 60 is kept in an incredibly hot area, loses consciousness and does not get adequate medical attention.''

The Catholic priest collapsed in his cell, about eight feet by two feet, at the National Penitentiary. Prisoners carried him on their backs to the infirmary, Quigley said by phone from Port-au-Prince.

Jean-Juste was detained July 21 amid allegations of involvement in the murder of a Haitian journalist. It is the second time Jean-Juste has been arrested since former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled into exile early last year. Jean-Juste is a prominent Aristide supporter and still calls for his return to Haiti.

Quigley said that during his 30-minute visit Tuesday in the warden's office, he noticed Jean-Juste had lost 15 to 20 pounds even though his parishioners bring him food every day. The priest complained about skin rashes, and pain in his neck, arms and legs.

He said Jean-Juste sleeps on a one-inch thick rubber mat in the ''extremely hot'' and ''smelly'' cell he shares with another prisoner.

[TiCam]

Even though I feel sorry, however, who is he? is he better than Jesus who went through worse than that. Because Jean-juste is lavalas. Do we know how many anti lavalas, not in good health when arrested and left in jail without a judgment, died in jail because of their beliefs, because they are not lavalas. How about those unknown, who spoke for them? Give me a break.

[mezanmi]

''He's sick, there is no doubt about it,'' Quigley said. ``There is something [wrong] with him...

Of course, he is sick. He has been sick for a long time. As a priest, he should have set good examples for the young people instead of being involved in all kind of wrong doing. I really feel sorry for my country. I wonder where our peaceful and intelligent people are?

[Joe the Haitian]

Fr. Jean-Juste remains ill with injuries from his beating at the church and swelling on both sides of neck and under arms. Johanna Berrigan, a nurse practicioner from Philadelphia went to visit him today in Haiti with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit. Johanna Berrigan was not allowed to bring in her medical equipment, nor to conduct a real examination of Fr. Jean-Juste. The US Embassy also went to visit Fr. Jean-Juste late last week with a physician, but was also denied the opportunity to perform a medical examination. Please keep the pressure on the US and Haitian governments to release Fr. Jean-Juste and all the political prisoners. This is the report of today's visit.

Report by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Johanna Berrigan of visit on 8.23.05

with Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste in Haitian National Penitentiary:

Bishop Tom Gumbleton and Johanna Berrigan were able to visit with Fr. Jean Juste for an hour today, Tuesday, August 23,2005. We met with him in the courtyard of the National Penitentiary. He remains in a small cell in isolation in a basement area. There is no light in his cell which leaves him in darkness. There is only one small light outside the cell. There is no room to lie down, it is dirty and the smell is very bad. He had much to share with us. He has not been allowed to have any visitors.

Fr. Jean Juste is spiritually strong, but he is physically not well. He appears to have lost some weight. He is clearly in pain. He said " since the beating, I am suffering so much." He reports alot of pain in his neck. He attributes this to the beating at the time of his arrest at the funeral. ( See Bill Quigley's report of the beating and arrest). The swelling on both sides of his neck is very obvious. He is also swollen under his arms. He also suffered from some type of skin rash due to a chemical that the guards sprayed on him that seems to be getting better.

Fr. Jean-Juste shared with us the details of the accusations, harassment, and arrest. Although he was the victim of abuse at the funeral where he was beaten, he is the one prison rather than his attackers. He was taken to jail on the pretense that it was for his safety. He remains in prison on charges of " incendiary sermons" and "public clamor, " which accused him of the murder of Jaques Roches. Fr. Jean Juste was in Miami at the time of the murder.

He spent only minutes talking about his own condition, then he quickly proceeded to tell us of his concerns for the other prisoners. He said "the inhumanity is something unbelievable, I discovered many injustices." Fr. Jean-Juste shared with us that many have been arrested arbitrarily and on false accusations. He is very concerned for the deportees who he says are in a hopeless situation. They have been deported from the U. S., but they have no representation. He spoke of the horrible treatment of the prisoners who are mentally ill. They are receiving no treatment, just more abuse.

Fr. Jean-Juste told us many prisoners are planning a hunger strike to begin Thursday. The demands of the political prisoners and detainees are:

Freedom for all political prisoners.

Freedom for all of the deportees

Respect for the rights of prisoners based on the U. N. charter for human rights.

Stop the arbitrary arrests and indefinite detention of prisoners.

Allow all prisoners to have Religious services according to their faith tradition.

Stop the beating and mistreatment of prisoners who are menatlly ill.

Pere Jean-Juste shared a story of one of the prisoners who is mentally ill and being held naked under a very hot stairwell. Fr. Jean-Juste said: "It hurts me so much to see this, please hear our call to give justice to all."

Fr. Jean-Juste continues to be very determined to speak out against all of the injustice.

Fr. Jean-Juste stated that "the de facto government are the real criminals as they are violating article 21 of the Haitian Constitution. Instead of reform of justice in the penitentary system, the de facto government is abusing their power. There is no due process. Government officials are using state power to crush innocent citizens. The weaker you are, the longer you stay. They forget you. They don't even know your name. We are not protected at all. Anybody in power can point a finger at you and you disappear."

"This government should go and the legitimate government should be restored to power. All political prisoners should be released, there should be respect for the human rights of all. I have hope in fighting the system, I may at some point be released - for the other prisoners, forget it."

Finally, he said "Thanks to all of you who are working for my release. I was so happy when I heard about the many letters that are pouring in and about the letter signed by the Congress people. I was so happy and that is what keeps me going. " He thanked us for the visit, by the end of the visit he was smiling and said "It feels so good for my soul to be out of the dungeon even for a little while."

We ended our visit in a circle of prayer where Fr. Jean Juste thanked God for all of us who are working and helping him in doing God's work of peace and justice.

[TiCam]

Ayez un peu de respect pour l?appareil judiciaire (bien qu?il existe une certaine lenteur) et les autorités medicaux, seuls ils sont competent à decider dans le cas d?un prisonier tel que Jean-Juste, sut tous les points de vues, tel que medical, judiciaire etc.

[angegardien]

I wonder where were those clowns when Avril was in jail, when they were murdering Lafontant, Sylvio Claude, Bertin Durocher etc....?

Now they are talking about injustice. This is so funny and full of it.

[TiCam]

Don't forget General Claude Raymond who was murdered and died chained in a hospital bed!

[angegardien]

And Michel Gonzalez who got murdered because he would not sell his house in Tabarre next to the defrocked's house.

Perhaps if some of those guys had their mother or sister raped by the charogne name Dom Laj, under lavalas orders, they would not feel the same way?

[sergo]

J'aimerais référer Monsieur Joe the Haitian à cet article qui traite sur le caractère mafieux de ce qu'il défend.

[TiCam]

Originally Posted by Joe the Haitian

He spent only minutes talking about his own condition, then he quickly proceeded to tell us of his concerns for the other prisoners. He said "the inhumanity is something unbelievable, I discovered many injustices." Fr. Jean-Juste shared with us that many have been arrested arbitrarily and on false accusations. He is very concerned for the deportees who he says are in a hopeless situation. They have been deported from the U. S., but they have no representation. He spoke of the horrible treatment of the prisoners who are mentally ill. They are receiving no treatment, just more abuse.

Obviously it is the first time in his life as a priest Jean-Juste visited a prison isn't that a shame! Yes, for a priest, shame on you Jean-Juste. God is telling you something about your sins, about your duties as a priest that you have neglected, to visit the sick, the prisons, not politic, listen to God, for once, now that you have time to meditate upon your soul, listen to Him.