25428: Holmstead (News): FWD-Police in Haiti continue the killing (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

FROM: John Holmstead  <cyberkismet5@yahoo.com>

Haiti Information Project

Police in Haiti continue the killing

June 17, 2005

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.

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.

For article with photos: http://www.haitiaction.net/
For more information visit:
http://www.teledyol.net/HIP/about.html
Contact: HIP@teledyol.net






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