Police in Haiti continue the killing
by Haiti Information Project
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.
Photos:17 year-old Natalie Luzius �2005 Haiti Information Project
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.
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