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<font size=3><br><br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3 color="#0000FF"><b>HAITI: ARMS
PROLIFERATION FUELS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AHEAD OF ELECTIONS <br><br>
PRESS RELEASE PRESS
RELEASE PRESS RELEASE <br>
07/28/2005 <br><br>
<br>
</b></font><font face="verdana" size=3>
<a href="http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGAMR360112005">
http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGAMR360112005</a><br><br>
Around 170,000 small arms are being used by former military personnel and
criminal gangs to commit grave human rights abuses as the country
prepares for elections, Amnesty International said in a new report issued
today.<br><br>
Amnesty International called on the interim government and the UN
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to implement without delay a
comprehensive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
program.<br><br>
“Small arms are being used by illegal armed groups and former military to
kidnap, sexually abuse and kill Haitians with absolute impunity. Without
disarmament and effective justice for the victims, Haiti will sink
further into crisis,” said Amnesty International.<br><br>
The report “Haiti: Disarmament delayed, justice denied”, shows how in
several parts of the country, where state authority remains frail, armed
groups and individuals continue to illegally control territory and
population and commit criminal acts without being challenged by national
authorities, including the National Police, or by MINUSTAH officials.
<br><br>
Attempts to disarm illegal armed groups have been insufficient, showing
the Haitian authorities’ unwillingness to implement an effective
disarmament plan. <br><br>
In March 2005, 325 former military personnel symbolically turned in 7
weapons in Cap-Haitien, marking their return to civilian life. Since
then, no serious attempts have been made to disarm the former military
and rebel groups.<br><br>
The lack of political will from the interim government to put in place
urgently needed reforms of the National Haitian Police (HNP) or to
implement a disarmament program is hampering the efforts of MINUSTAH to
solve the crisis.<br><br>
"Lack of accountability of HNP officers and widespread impunity for
human rights abuses by armed groups cannot lead to durable peace in
Haiti. The interim government is failing in its international and
fundamental responsibilities to protect Haitians and their most basic
rights." <br><br>
Amid increased violence and insecurity, MINUSTAH should take more
decisive actions to fulfil its objectives of protecting civilians,
promoting human rights and fighting impunity.<br><br>
“Durable peace in Haiti will never be achieved unless those responsible
for human rights crimes are held to account and the victims obtain
redress.”<br><br>
Amnesty International is calling on the Haitian interim government to:
<br><br>
<ul>
<li>Implement without delay a comprehensive disarmament, demobilization
and reintegration program.
<li>Investigate all reports of human rights violations and bring those
responsible to justice.
<li>Provide reparation for victims of human rights violations.
<li>Reform the judicial system in accordance with international human
rights legislation and end illegal arrests and long-term detentions for
those awaiting trial.
</ul><br>
In addition, Amnesty International is calling on the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti to: <br><br>
<ul>
<li>Work together with the interim government for the establishment of a
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program and the
investigation of human rights abuses.
<li>Issue frequent, public reports on the human rights situation.
<li>Vet police officers for human rights abuses and train all HNP
personnel on human rights standards and international standards for law
enforcement officials.
</ul><br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3 color="#0000FF"><b>*********<br>
*********<br><br>
<br><br>
PEACEKEEPERS ACCUSED AFTER KILLINGS IN HAITI <br><br>
</b></font><font face="verdana" size=3 color="#2E2E2E">By Andrew Buncombe
in Washington <br><br>
Published: 29 July 2005 <br><br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3>
<a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article302259.ece">
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article302259.ece</a><br><br>
<i>Protesters tear up banners praising the UN's work in the streets of
Port-au-Prince <br><br>
</i></font><font face="verdana" size=3 color="#2E2E2E">Evidence is
mounting that United Nations peacekeepers shot and killed unarmed
civilians, including children, during a recent raid in Haiti. The UN said
it was ready to investigate the alleged ‘use of unnecessary force.’
<br><br>
Independent witnesses say up to 23 people were killed during the raid and
that many were shot in the head. Video footage seen by The Independent
shows the bodies of many killed in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and
contains testimony from witnesses claiming the victims were killed by
‘blue helmets,’ common parlance for UN peacekeepers. <br><br>
In a statement, the UN Mission in Haiti (Minustah) said: "[UN
forces] did not target civilians in the operation ... but the nature of
such missions in densely populated urban areas is such that there is
always a risk of civilian casualties. Minustah deeply regrets any
injuries or loss of life during its operation." <br><br>
Yesterday, the most senior UN peacekeeping official appealed to the
Security Council for specialized troops for Haiti ť admitting the forces
available were not trained for such raids. <br><br>
The footage of the aftermath of the 6 July raid in the Cité Soleil slum
was taken by a team led by Haitian-based journalist Kevin Pina. Pina
said: " Numerous witnesses said the victims were killed by UN forces
ť the Haitian National Police (HNP) were not even there. I think the fact
the UN did not bring a single doctor or ambulance with them on this
mission is extraordinary ť surely you would do that whether you were
targeting criminal gangs or civilians? It is interesting that so many
victims were shot in the head. I think the reason they did not bring
ambulances is that they were not shooting to wound, they were shooting to
kill." <br><br>
The raid took place against a backdrop of violence in Haiti ahead of
autumn elections. Authorities say much of the violence is perpetrated by
criminal gangs with links to the former president, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide. <br><br>
But since the ousting of the democratically elected Mr Aristide last
year, human rights groups have detailed repression of his supporters by
the US-backed interim government and the HNP. A report by the human
rights program at Harvard Law School said there were also "credible
allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by Minustah".
<br><br>
Minustah said its dawn raid, involving more than 400 troops, targeted the
gang leader known as "Dread Wilme", who is accused of murder
and kidnapping. He and four alleged associates were killed. <br><br>
But other independent witnesses support Pina's evidence that civilians
were also killed. David Welsh, of the US Labor/Human Rights Delegation to
Haiti, was at a conference in Port-au-Prince that weekend. Delegation
members interviewed witnesses and filmed the bodies of victims. He
described the shooting as a "massacre": "Based on
witnesses' testimony and the number of bodies we were able to confirm, we
believe that at least 23 people were killed," he said. <br><br>
Among the dead were four-year-old Stanley Romelus, who was shot in the
head; his mother, Sonia, and his one-year-old brother, Nelson. The boy's
father said they were killed in their house after UN forces threw smoke
grenades. His testimony is to be included in a documentary Pina is
producing based on the footage. <br><br>
Christophe Fournier, Médecins Sans Frontičres, which has a clinic close
to Cité Soleil, said: "On that day we treated 27 people for gunshot
wounds. Of them, around 20 were women under the age of 18."
<br><br>
Minustah claims it received "unconfirmed information" that
criminal gangs were seen killing civilians after its operation. It said:
" Subsequently, these elements attributed these atrocious acts to
Minustah." <br><br>
At UN headquarters yesterday, Jean-Marie Guehenno, undersecretary-general
for peacekeeping, asked for specialist troops for Haiti. "I have to
acknowledge the forces we have do not have the kind of very specialized
capacity ... that makes absolutely sure that there will be zero civilian
casualties in a densely populated environment." <br><br>
Evidence is mounting that United Nations peacekeepers shot and killed
unarmed civilians, including children, during a recent raid in Haiti. The
UN said it was ready to investigate the alleged "use of unnecessary
force" . <br><br>
Independent witnesses say up to 23 people were killed during the raid and
that many were shot in the head. Video footage seen by The Independent
shows the bodies of many killed in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and
contains testimony from witnesses claiming the victims were killed by
"blue helmets" ? common parlance for UN peacekeepers. <br><br>
In a statement, the UN Mission in Haiti (Minustah) said: "[UN
forces] did not target civilians in the operation ... but the nature of
such missions in densely populated urban areas is such that there is
always a risk of civilian casualties. Minustah deeply regrets any
injuries or loss of life during its operation." <br><br>
Yesterday, the most senior UN peacekeeping official appealed to the
Security Council for specialised troops for Haiti ? admitting the forces
available were not trained for such raids. <br><br>
The footage of the aftermath of the 6 July raid in the Cit? Soleil slum
was taken by a team led by Haitian-based journalist Kevin Pina. Pina
said: " Numerous witnesses said the victims were killed by UN forces
? the Haitian National Police (HNP) were not even there. I think the fact
the UN did not bring a single doctor or ambulance with them on this
mission is extraordinary ? surely you would do that whether you were
targeting criminal gangs or civilians? It is interesting that so many
victims were shot in the head. I think the reason they did not bring
ambulances is that they were not shooting to wound, they were shooting to
kill." <br>
The raid took place against a backdrop of violence in Haiti ahead of
autumn elections. Authorities say much of the violence is perpetrated by
criminal gangs with links to the former president, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide. </font><font face="verdana" size=3> <br><br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3 color="#2E2E2E">But since the ousting
of the democratically elected Mr Aristide last year, human rights groups
have detailed repression of his supporters by the US-backed interim
government and the HNP. A report by the human rights programme at Harvard
Law School said there were also "credible allegations of human
rights abuses perpetrated by Minustah". <br><br>
Minustah said its dawn raid, involving more than 400 troops, targeted the
gang leader known as "Dread Wilme", who is accused of murder
and kidnapping. He and four alleged associates were killed. <br><br>
But other independent witnesses support Pina's evidence that civilians
werealso killed. David Welsh, of the US Labor/Human Rights Delegation to
Haiti, was at a conference in Port-au-Prince that weekend. Delegation
members interviewed witnesses and filmed the bodies of victims. He
described the shooting as a "massacre": <br><br>
"Based on witnesses' testimony and the number of bodies we were able
to confirm, we believe that at least 23 people were killed," he
said. <br><br>
Among the dead were four-year-old Stanley Romelus, who was shot in the
head; his mother, Sonia, and his one-year-old brother, Nelson. The boy's
father said they were killed in their house after UN forces threw smoke
grenades. His testimony is to be included in a documentary Pina is
producing based on the footage. <br>
Christophe Fournier, M?decins Sans Fronti?res, which has a clinic close
to Cit? Soleil, said: "On that day we treated 27 people for gunshot
wounds. Of them, around 20 were women under the age of 18."
<br><br>
Minustah claims it received "unconfirmed information" that
criminal gangs were seen killing civilians after its operation. It said:
" Subsequently, these elements attributed these atrocious acts to
Minustah." <br><br>
At UN headquarters yesterday, Jean-Marie Guehenno, undersecretary-general
for peacekeeping, asked for specialist troops for Haiti. "I have to
acknowledge the forces we have do not have the kind of very specialised
capacity ... that makes absolutely sure that there will be zero civilian
casualties in a densely populated environment." <br><br>
<br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3>© 2005 Independent News & Media
(UK) Ltd. <br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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