25276: Esser: (reply) Re: 25263: Severe: (publish) BBC story on new ICG report (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser <torx@joimail.com>

Haiti News Watch
http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HNW/6_1_5/6_1_5.html

June 1, 2005


BBC misrepresents conclusions in a new report by Brussels-based think
tank International Crisis Group (ICG).


Analysis:

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) misrepresented the
conclusions of a comprehensive report issued by the IGC entitled,
Spoiling Security in Haiti Crisis Group Latin America/Caribbean
Report N°13, 31 May 2005.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=3485

The BBC, for unknown reasons, ignored important key observations of
the report and provided readers with a condensed “interpretation”
that blamed Haiti’s violence solely on politically motivated “warring
gangs.” The BBC utterly ignores the report’s assessment of the role
of politically non-aligned groups such as drug traffickers and the
violence of the Haitian police.


Article Title:

Haiti faces 'explosive' situation
Haiti is caught in a "deep political, social and economic crisis",
says a new report by Brussels-based think tank International Crisis
Group (ICG).

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Published: 2005/06/01
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr//2/hi/americas/4599369.stm



Quotation:

“It [IGC report] blames warring gangs - supporters or opponents of
ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide - for the bloodshed.”

Infraction: false generalization, false conclusion of the overall
facts contained in ICG report.


Omitted Information:

Source: Spoiling Security in Haiti Crisis Group Latin
America/Caribbean Report N°13, 31 May 2005.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3485&l=1


pg. 4

Groups linked to criminal activities, particularly drugtrafficking
and contraband (in Haiti and abroad), are behind much of the current
wave of violence. It is plausible that they will attempt to establish
(or indeed have already established) ties to political parties, and
will offer financing or other kinds of support. While the extreme
weakness of the transitional government and state institutions might
suit them, they can be expected to follow politics closely so as to
be able to adapt to any conceivable post-election scenario and to
quickly establish a modus vivendi with the new government, as they
have done in the past.

Editor’s note: From this passage we conclude this particular group
cited in the ICG report has no political affiliation in relation to
the question of Aristide but is parasitic in nature

pg. 11

In the capital's poor neighbourhoods, the police not only have failed
to regain public trust, but they are increasingly perceived as an
aggressive force. The HNP seems to be criminalising many of the urban
poor through indiscriminate declarations by senior officers and
indiscriminate repressive operations in the slums. This same pattern
appears in the media, which systematically associates residents of
poor neighbourhoods with "chimères" or, more commonly, "chimères
Lavalas". Members of the business elite have fuelled this campaign,
demanding a tougher stance towards "chimères Lavalas", ignoring the
fact that many other gangs also are engaged in criminal, violent and
destabilising acts. Repeated killings during pro-Lavalas
demonstrations have been a consequence. Unfortunately, most Haitian
human rights NGOs have not been spoken out about these abuses.

pg. 11


B. ALLEGED EXECUTIONS

There have been several allegations serious human rights abuse by HNP
officers over the last few months in Port-au-Prince:

-At least five persons were confirmed killed and five wounded after
police shot at demonstrators in the Nazon area, near the UN
headquarters, on 27 April. According to local residents, officers
from one of two HNP vehicles shot indiscriminately, killing at least
five demonstrators.58

That vehicle then left while officers from the other vehicle shot in
the air, dispersing the crowd. The bodies were subsequently removed.59

-On 28 February 2005, during a peaceful demonstration to commemorate
the first anniversary of Aristide's departure, police allegedly
opened fire without reason, killing at least two demonstrators. The
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) said
publicly a few days later police brutality was hindering
stabilisation, and the UN would not tolerate it. He warned that UN
soldiers would use force if needed whenever the HNP fired on unarmed
civilians.60 The Minister of Justice angrily accused MINUSTAH of
protecting "chimères".61 Relations were soon patched up, however, and
MINUSTAH failed to insist on a thorough investigation into the
shootings.

-Six young men were allegedly killed on 25 February when police
entered alleys in Rue St Martin and Rue Tiremasse, Bel Air, shooting
widely. Victims allegedly included a homeless man, a football trainer
for poor children in the neighbourhood and a street vendor.62

Full ICG report available at:
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=3485


Haiti News Watch (HNW) is an independent organization dedicated to
fact checking news sources related to coverage of events in Haiti.
Our reports and analysis of news content is intended to provide
readers with story context and the background of sources used in
published articles related to Haiti.


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