=?x-unknown?q?20714=3A__Esser=3A_Two_individuals_seriously_in?==?x-unknown?q?jured_Saturday_night_by_American_soldiers_in_?==?x-unknown?q?Canap=E9-Vert?=

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

AHP News

March 21, 2004

Two individuals seriously injured Saturday night by American soldiers
in Canapé-Vert

Port-au-Prince, March 21, 2004 -(AHP)- Two individuals were seriously
injured Saturday night in the Canapé-Vert area of Port-au-Prince by
American soldiers from the international force which entered the
country after the February 29 departure of President Jean Bertrand
Aristide.

One of the victims, Louis René Balmyr, alias Babal, took at least 7
bullets and his condition is serious. He is taken care of at a
hospital center of the capital. His friend, Marcel, was luckier and
took only 1 bullet.

Some witnesses say the two men allegedly hesitated to stop for a
search operation near the administrative office of the national
telephone company (Téléco).

Other witnesses stated that the vehicle was moving at quick speed and
the two men did not see in time the soldiers asking them to stop,
since electricity was out.

On his part, Louis René Balmyr allegedly has told his family and
friends he was giving his friend a ride home when bullets started to
fly on his vehicle, right in front of a small market from the area.

He also said he was cuffed before a patrol from the National Police
took him to the hospital 20 minutes after the incident.

The American soldiers then would have opened fire on the vehicle, a
white Toyota Land Cruiser which was totalled.

The vehicle, which has blood splashed all over inside it, was still
at the spot of the incident on Sunday morning. The incident had taken
place the night before at around 10 o'clock.

The Téléco office also took some shots, particularly at the higher
floors.

For many weeks now, citizens of Port-au-prince have been locking
themselves up inside their homes as soon as night falls because of
the ever-growing sense of insecurity in the streets.

Many people have complained that, most often, they do not understand
the instructions given by foreign soldiers because of the language
barrier.

Earlier this month, a taxi driver was killed in Port-au-Prince's
industrial park after he went through a road block while foreign
soldiers were ordering him to stop. Sadly, the man did not speak
English.
.