30586: Arthur (news) Haiti Support Group accuses TCI Government of a ~Scover-up~T (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: haitisupport@gn.apc.org

Turks and Caicos Weekly News - 25 May 2007

By Gemma Handy

HAITIAN human rights lawyers are demanding an independent investigation by the
UN and Red Cross into the May 4 sloop disaster in which scores of refugees were
killed.

Meanwhile, members of the London-based Haiti Support Group have accused the TCI
Government of a ?cover-up? amid ongoing claims that the stricken vessel was
rammed by a police boat.

The latest proceedings are likely to add fuel to an already raging fire.

Representatives of the Haitian Lawyers? Committee for the Respect of Human
Rights (CARLI) are calling for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees,
the International Red Cross and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to
form a commission to conduct a probe into the tragedy.

Controversy ensued after initial police claims that the sloop capsized prior to
officers arriving at the scene contradicted a later account that the vessel
overturned while being towed by a police boat.

Charles Arthur of the Haiti Support Group, said: ?The issue of whether the TCI's
vessel was on the scene or not when the boat from Haiti capsized is just one of
the discrepancies that needs to be cleared up.

?Then of course there is the very serious allegation that the police vessel
rammed the Haitian boat.

?We have also read survivors' testimonies stating that their boat was being
towed away from the coast into deeper water when it overturned.

?There is something very wrong when the authorities? explanations of what
happened directly contradict accounts provided by survivors.

?It is hard to believe that such a large group of people could or would concoct
a story.

?Given the discrepancies in the official explanations, we are fearful that the
authorities are engaged in a cover-up of, at worst, an atrocity, or at best,
criminal negligence.

?Only an independent investigation can remove these doubts.?

Jeanne Bernard Pierre, the director-general of Haiti's National Migration Office
who visited the TCI shortly after the incident, was previously reported as
saying that if the survivors? testimonies were found to be true, the Haitian
government would consider the ramming of the boat to be a ?criminal? act.

Two separate probes into the disaster are currently being carried out by the TCI
authorities and a team from the UK?s Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Local police have denied any wrongdoing blaming high storms for the capsizing.


Inspector Hilton Duncan told the Weekly News he had personally inspected both
boats and found ?absolutely no signs? of a ramming.

?If you were smart, would you ram a boat twice and then turn around and save 78
persons to testify against you?? he said.

?To have five officers on a boat at that time of morning with that type of
weather, rescuing 78 people ought to bring a commendation,? he said.

?But people don?t see it that way.?

Inspector Hilton added that the authorities were awaiting the results of the UK
investigation.

More than 60 dead bodies were plucked from the sea following the catastrophe in
the early hours of May 4.

Around a dozen more people are still missing.

It has been described as the worst disaster to affect the TCI in recent history.


________________________________________________________________

Forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the Haitian
people's struggle for human rights, participatory democracy and equitable
development - since 1992.

Web site: www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org


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