[R-G] Fwd: Police in Haiti continue the killing

[Anthony Fenton]

>
>
> Haiti Information Project
>
> Police in Haiti continue the killing
>
> June 17, 2005
>
> Port au Prince, Haiti (HIP) - The Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH)
> launched another bloody incursion into a poor neighborhood of Haiti's
> capital today. The U.N. refused to comment on the operation that
> reportedly led to the deaths of three people and four people wounded.
>
> Residents of Bel Air, a launching site for recurring demonstrations
> demanding the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, came under
> fire this morning as the police entered the area firing
> indiscriminately at residents.  Following the shooting of several
> innocent bystanders by the police, unknown gunman accused of being
> Aristide supporters, returned fire wounding two policeman and forcing
> the heavily armed PNH forces to withdraw.
>
> Among the first victims shot by the police was 17 year-old Natalie
> Luzius clutching her 6 month-old son Fritznel Luzius while protecting
> the child at the moment a police bullet struck her in the head and
> killed her.  According to her brother, "Natalie fell without warning as
> the police shot her."  Fritznel fell down next to the body of his dead
> mother and was grabbed by her brother who took him away from the
> shooting. Her brother continued, "There was no warning and Natalie was
> cooking when they killed her. She wasn't even on the street. They fired
> into our home without warning and without cause."
>
> This latest deadly raid by the Haiti's police comes on the heels of a
> large demonstration last Tuesday against police violence in another
> purported bastion of support for Aristide, the seaside shantytown of
> Cite Soleil. Thousands of residents took the streets on June 14 to
> demand the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to free Lavalas
> political prisoners, and to condemn the violence against their
> communities.
>
> A Lavalas representative and member of the Famni Lavalas Political
> Commission, John Jorel explained, "We are here today to condemn the
> position of Andre Apaid, Charles Henry Baker and Reginald Boulos of the
> business community who are trying to pressure the U.N. forces to
> slaughter us."  Jorel continued, "It's unacceptable the Juan
> Gabriel-Valdes [U.N. Ambassador to Haiti] would officially state there
> is no political persecution in Haiti today even after his boss Kofi
> Annan asked for an investigation into the human rights violations by
> the police. It is unacceptable that he would declare there are no
> political prisoners in Haiti today when his boss Kofi Annan asked for
> an investigation into the thousands of Lavalas political prisoners held
> without charge in Haitian jails today. It's unacceptable that Apaid,
> baker and Boulos continue to pressure the U.N. to massacre us in the
> popular neighborhoods."
>
> On May 27 Dr. Reginald Boulos, the president of the Haitian Chamber of
> Commerce and Industry, demanded the U.S.-installed government of Gerard
> Latortue allow the business community to form their own private 
> security
> firms and arm them with automatic weapons. Boulos also suggested the
> Latortue regime allow businesses to withhold taxes for one month and
> use the money to buy more powerful weapons for the police on the
> international market. "If they don't allow us to do this then we'll
> take on own initiative and do it anyway" Boulos threatened. Since then,
> pressure has mounted from Haiti's traditional wealthy elite for 
> stronger
> military action by the U.N. and the Haitian police.
>
> Haiti's latest wave of violence and insecurity began after the Haitian
> police fired on peaceful marches in the capital demanding the return of
> President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Feb. 28 and April 27. At least 11
> unarmed demonstrators were killed in the two attacks prompting U.N.
> Secretary General Kofi Annan to echo demands by human rights
> organizations for an official investigation.
>
> The U.S.-installed government of Gerard Latortue has dismissed
> allegations against the police despite statements made by Brazilian
> General Heleno Ribera and video footage taken by a local television
> station confirming the unprovoked attacks. The video footage also shows
> members of Haiti's police force planting guns on corpses to justify the
> slayings on April 27.
>
> Since then, there have been almost daily kidnappings and killings that
> U.S. Ambassador James B. Foley and the local Haitian business elite
> continue to blame on a small and violent minority claiming allegiance
> to Aristide.
>
> The fact that members of Haiti's police force have been implicated and
> arrested in the recent spate of kidnappings has not softened the
> rhetoric of the U.N. and Haiti's wealthy elite who have recently called
> for retribution and violence against pro-Aristide neighborhoods.
>
> Haiti's chief law enforcement officer, Bernard Gousse was forced to
> resign last week amid mounting criticism of killings committed by
> Haiti's police.  In his letter of resignation he justified the summary
> execution of civilians during his tenure by referring to the ousted
> government of Aristide as a "dictatorship."
>
> Canadian Foreign Minister, Pierre Pettigrew, was painted red today
> during a press conference in Montreal to support the upcoming
> U.S.-sponsored elections in Haiti. After shouting, "You've the blood of
> Haitians on your hands,"  and dousing a surprised Pettigrew with red
> paint, an unidentified protestor was escorted away by security
> officers.
>
> For article with photos: http://www.haitiaction.net/
> For more information visit:
> http://www.teledyol.net/HIP/about.html
> Contact: HIP at teledyol.net
>
>
>
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>
> The Haiti Information Project (HIP) is a non-profit alternative news
> service providing coverage and analysis of breaking developments in
> Haiti.
>
> For more information visit:
> http://www.teledyol.net/HIP/about.html
> Contact: HIP at teledyol.net
>
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