02-1-06,9:00am

In recent weeks, as we have reported, several doctors have examined Haitian political prisoner Father Gérard Jean-Juste in his Port-au-Prince jail, determined that he suffers from leukemia, and prescribed immediate medical treatment in the United States.

Last week, Jean-Juste and his supporters suffered a cruel blow. A Haitian judge first dismissed charges that Jean-Juste was involved in the murder of journalist Jacques Roche, which occurred when he was out of the country. This raised expectations that he would be quickly released and brought to Miami.

But these hopes were dashed when Judge Jean Peres Paul, who arrested two journalists for 'disrespect' last September (see Haïti Progrès, Vol. 23, No. 27, 9/14/2005), then indicted Jean-Juste on lesser charges of weapons possession and criminal conspiracy, thereby keeping him in jail.

'It is simply outrageous, ' said Kevin Pina, the North American journalist who was arrested along with his Haitian colleague, Jean Ristil, by Peres Paul. 'I was there when Peres' team was searching Jean-Juste's house, and they made it very clear that they had found absolutely no illegal weapons. For them to concoct this charge now is just incredible.'

Brian Concannon, Jr. of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) explained in his weekly Haiti update that the charges are 'without legal or factual foundation.'

' They are based,' he writes, 'on Fr. Gerry's employment as a chaplain at the National Palace under Haiti's ousted constitutional government. His position entitled him to five security guards, who were issued a total of three pistols and two shotguns by the government. The ordonnance [indictment] charges Fr. Gerry with illegal arms possession, even though there is no evidence that the security guards lack a valid license, that their employment has been terminated, that the National Palace authorities have asked for the guns back or that the guns were involved in any illegal activity. The conspiracy charge does not allege that Fr. Jean-Juste or anyone else planned or engaged in illegal activity; its sole basis is that he refused to tell the judge the names of his five security guards.'

Concannon goes on to explain that Jean-Juste would be tried by a single judge, not a jury, where his chances of conviction are high. 'As the ordonnance is written, the prosecutor would not need to prove that the guns are illegal or that anyone engaged in or planned any illegal activity,' he said. The conspiracy charge carries a sentence of forced labor for 3-15 years.

The de facto Haitian government and the U.S. embassy are pressuring Jean-Juste's IJDH lawyer, Mario Joseph, not to appeal the ruling but to go to trial. They promise that Jean-Juste would be pardoned if convicted.

Meanwhile, Jean-Juste remains in jail, although 'the prosecutor could release Fr. Gerry for life-saving treatment with less than 30 minutes' paperwork,' Concannon concludes. 'Fr. Gerry, who wants to clear his name in a fair trial and has appeared at court or the police station every time he has been summoned, has promised to return if he is provisionally released.'

This week, a letter from Jean-Juste was smuggled out of jail. In it, Jean-Juste explains how the 'Big Boss,' presumably the U.S. government, limits his contacts with the media. He also poignantly but bravely describes how he is preparing for death, if he remains deprived of qualified medical treatment in prison. .

Friends, Compatriots and All: .

It is not easy for me to communicate to you through the media. It is forbidden by my jailers. That order comes from the Big Boss, the invisible one in Haiti.

With heart broken I have followed most of the big events in Haiti. Year 2005 has been very rough in Haiti. Tragedy after tragedy. As we have survived it, I remain grateful to God for you and for me. With the grace of God, I hope that you and I and all men and women of good will are doing our best to drastically improve life in Haiti.

My health is quitting me. Some physicians say that a type of cancer called leukemia is attacking my cells. Death may come soon if I do not receive treatment. Supporters from Haiti and around the world are keeping the pressure on. Others are calling to the living God with tears in their eyes. Unfortunately, some people think I am faking. They wish my death. Whatever position someone may take does not matter to me. Doing God's will has been my motto.

On February 7, 2006, I will reach the age of 60 years. I think I was very lucky in this life. Most of my compatriots died between 45 and 55 years. I am already an exception. If I can, I would like to take the opportunity to raise the death issue before I depart from earth. Each one of us has to go. Unfortunately, I will leave more work for you. However, I believe God always arises new workers for his vineyard. Plus, from above, I'll be so busy meeting God's family members who enter heaven, so do not worry about me.

As I am writing this communique, some people, friends of mine, enter the jail crying, with tears flowing down their cheeks. That makes me uncomfortable, but what can I do to stop it? Death in the risen Christ is not the end of life. It is a passage, a necessary one from earth to heaven. I am looking forward to discover, thanks to Jesus, the glorious heavenly life. So many ancestors, friends, relatives, parents, martyrs, militants, justice and freedom lovers to greet.

Do not worry for me, as Jesus once told us, worry for yourselves. Worry for yourselves. You have work to do. You do not have the means yet, or the means may be hidden. Please listen to God, enjoy putting his gospel into your lives and with him God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, you will build a better world.

Open your intelligence, open your hearts and minds and be creative to exploit the wealth in our own world, to make a better living for each other. Yes, you can. Yes, we can. Let love triumph, let its fruits be shared and happy days for all.

Finally, let me tell you as a Christian, I believe in miracles. Miracles individually and collectively. Nothing is impossible for God. God may directly touch me and I may live a few more years with you. He may work marvelously through physicians and make miracles take place. Be in peace! Do your best. Let the will of God be done. Au revoir! .

Gerard Jean-Juste