20140: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Six questioned in fatal shooting (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Tue, Mar. 09, 2004


PORT-AU-PRINCE


Six questioned in fatal shooting

As Haitians call for a more robust response from U.S. and other foreign
troops in Port-au-Prince, the police question six people in Sunday's deadly
shooting.

BY SUSANNAH A. NESMITH

snesmith@herald.com


JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE,

from Bangui, Central African Republic

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- The police were questioning six people Monday in the
shooting deaths of seven people during a rally to celebrate the ouster of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, said Haitian Police Chief Leon Charles.

Investigators also suspect former police officers were involved in the
Sunday attack near the National Palace, in which 30 people were also
wounded, Charles said.

Charles declined to release any details, and it also was unclear whether the
six being questioned were suspects or witnesses.

In the Central African Republic, meanwhile, a defiant Aristide insisted that
he is still Haiti's president and reiterated his allegation, denied by the
United States, that he was forced to flee on Feb. 29.

''I am and I remain the elected president,'' Aristide told reporters in
Bangui. ``I plead for the restoration of democracy. . . . We appeal for a
peaceful resistance.''

Washington dismissed Aristide's declaration.

''If Mr. Aristide really wants to serve his country, he really has to, we
think, let his nation get on with the future and not try to stir up the past
again,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Aristide's appearance came as a small group of supporters gathered in front
of the palace Monday and shouted anti-Bush slogans during the formal
inauguration ceremony for interim President Boniface Alexandre, who
denounced Sunday's deadly violence.

FLIGHTS MAY RESUME

Today, a ''council of sages'' is expected to name a prime minister, and
American Airlines is scheduled to resume flights to Port-au-Prince.

Although gunmen loyal to Aristide were blamed for the attack, investigators
are also looking at the possibility that the shooter or shooters were tied
to the rebels, a source close to the investigation said. The speculation
stems from the fact that some Haitian police have joined the rebels.

Also, after the shooting a radio personality arrived and called for a return
of rebel leader Guy Philippe.

''It was strange that this guy rolls in when every one else was scattering
and starts saying Guy Philippe was the only one that can restore order,''
said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. ``It's something we're
looking at.''

Philippe denied Monday that his men were involved.

The shootings prompted calls for U.S. and other foreign forces to take an
aggressive role to stop violence even as hundreds looted an industrial park
again Monday.

Col. Mark Gurganus said his mission was not to protect property -- only to
save lives. ''If I reacted to every report of looting and violence in this
city, I would have to have Marines in front of every house in the city,'' he
said.

Marines shot one gunman Sunday. A seventh victim died in a hospital
overnight, the Associated Press reported.

Gurganus, the commander of the multinational force, said the foreign troops
would only be supporting the Haitian police and would not directly disarm
people or make arrests.

But Charles said his force would not be able to handle security in the
capital for another three months.

WEAK FORCE

''I don't have enough guys to patrol,'' he said. ``I don't even have enough
vehicles or guns.''

Col. Dave Berger said the Marines will help the police by securing certain
neighborhoods block by block, giving officers the opportunity to conduct
searches and seizures.

''What we've got to wait for is the police to get coordinated enough so we
can cordon off the area and they will go door-to-door,'' he said.

Herald staff writers Joe Mozingo and Jacqueline Charles contributed to this
report.

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