PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Haiti’s media association, SOS Journalistes, has welcomed the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the recent incident in which three journalists were killed when armed gunmen attacked the recent reopening of the country’s biggest hospital.

A follow-up commission of the tragic events of December 24 at the General Hospital was launched December 26 during a meeting organised at the initiative of the Minister of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Dr Patrick Pelissier, who is acting as interim minister of Public Health and Population (MSPP), after the dismissal of Dr Duckenson Lorthé Blema.

In a statement on Monday, SOS Journalistes welcomed the support of the government through Pelissier, “who has acted, so far, with unusual attention, availability and presence, regarding the ongoing efforts to assist journalists who have fallen victim to gang violence and their close families, as well as to address the needs related to the funerals of the two journalists and the police officer who were fatally injured.”

According to Joseph Guyler C Delva, the association’s Secretary General, the Monitoring Commission — whose first meeting, with the minister was held last Thursday — must meet shortly to continue discussions and to immediately propose possible solutions to the various aspects of what represents a real tragedy.

“SOS Journalistes, representatives of the national police unions, a representative of the Ministry of Justice, and a representative of the Office for the Protection of Citizens (OPC), as an observer, will now have to participate in the meetings of the so-called Monitoring Commission.”

The secretary general added that “one should remember that during a series of shootings on December 24, 2024 in the vicinity of the general hospital, two journalists and a police officer were killed by armed gangs, while one official, showing irresponsibility to say the least, had planned to reopen the hospital without ensuring that the necessary security measures were in place.”

In the aftermath of the incident, some of the journalists who were hospitalised, after being injured, had to be operated on, while others will have to be consulted by a psychologist as early as Monday.

“Diligence will be exercised and resources will be made available to immediately assist journalists who should have obtained certain medications themselves,” said Pelissier.

“SOS Journalistes extends its thanks to the management of La Paix hospital, in particular Drs Paul Junior Fontilus (executive director) and Lerbourg Jean Philippe, who have so far facilitated the provision of adequate care.”

“They made special consideration for the bodies of journalists, which may be kept in the hospital morgue beyond the time usually granted to the victims’ relatives and until the funeral takes place. Doctors who make enormous sacrifices, in very hazardous security conditions, to provide care that so many people, left without any alternative, need today.”

“SOS Journalists salutes the spirit of self-sacrifice of the doctors and the staff of La Paix Hospital, in general. It is thanks to their dedication that some of our colleagues are still alive today. SOS Journalistes, the parents and relatives of the victims express their feelings of deep gratitude to them.”