Open letter to Mrs TAUBIRA French Minister of justice

Dear Minister of justice,

 

On november 14th 2012, Serge Letchimy, the deputy from Martinique, had expressed you the concerns of the ACVA (Association of victims of the air disaster of August 16th 2005, in Venezuela) about the lack of diligence of the judge in charge of the penal case and non-compliance with a decision by the Fort-de-France Chamber of Instruction, namely the translation of the maintenance folder.

You have heard the call of the families and have released the sum of € 500,000 to perform this translation which was to participate in the demonstration of the truth by allowing to understand the history of this aircraft in which 152 travellers from Martinique died, its maintenance conditions, the safety conditions offered to the passengers etc.

However, on May 6th 2014, the judge Colombet sent two letters to each plaintiff. In the first one, he indicates that he considers his mission completed, in the second one, in addition to the notice of the end of information, he notifies to the families the end of the translation and its annexation to the case file.

Madam Minister, € 500,000 were spent and the judge has no intention to take account of the translation that resulted.                                      

Financially, it would be a mess that the families are not ready to accept. In terms of the law, we say that everything that contributes to the truth must be taken into account and analyzed.

Moreover, such an attitude is synonymous with disregard for the victims’ families and we want it to stop.

As for what has been translated (12.000 pages); it seems that it is not the entire file provided by Colombia but just a part of it.  We therefore wonder about the selection criteria used by the judge. Had he the right to do so? On the basis of what?

Madam Minister, 9 years of procedure, it is long, very long for the families, but a botched investigation cannot satisfy the need of truth from those who believe in the French justice and who don’t intend to give up.

We therefore ask you to ensure that this investigation cannot be closed in the state with all the questions that remain and that the judge should take into account this translation without delay.

The families of the victims need to understand what really happened on August 16th 2005 in Maracaibo, but it is also the whole island of Martinique which stares at this survey and beyond, all the associations of victims.

 Please accept, Madam Minister, the expression of my highest consideration.

 

 

AVCA  President.

                                                    Rose-Marie TAUPIN PELICAN


A.V.C.A. DU 16 AOUT 2005    Contact the author of the petition