huridocs-tech HAI: Government shuts down ISP

From: Nizkor English Service <nzkspain@teleline.es>
Reply-To: nzkspain@derechos.org
To: Nizkor Int'l Human Rights Team <nzkspain@derechos.org>
Subject: Hti - Haitian government takes measures that undermine civil
liberties.

Nizkor Int. Human Rights Team
Derechos Human Rights
Serpaj Europe
Urgent Solidarity and Information
[ii) messages]
10nov99

i) THE GOVERNMENT OF HAITI SHUTS DOWN ITS BIGGEST INTERNET SERVICE
PROVIDER AS AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE DISSENT.

For the time being, much of Haiti is cut off from the rest of the
on-line world.

Several weeks ago, the Haitian government closed down Alpha Network
Communications (ACN). ACN had been the first and largest provider of
Internet access in the Caribbean nation. The government gave no advance
notice, nor did it seek prior judicial approval of its actions. As a
result, nearly 80% of the Internet users in Haiti have lost access to
the network.

The national telephone monopoly, Telecommunications d'Haiti -- also
known as Teleco, and the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL)
have alleged that ACN was illegally selling international telephone
cards and providing international telephone service. However, many
observers suspect that this move is an attempt by the government to
silence dissent and consolidate power. This action comes only a few
months before Haiti's national elections, which were scheduled to happen
sometime in the year 2000.

Letters of protest can be sent to: Mailto: embassy@haiti.org
[Source: Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC) Alert. Volume 3, Issue
7. November 3, 1999]


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