8812: Press Release from Prime Minister Cherestal on attacks on police (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

RÉPUBLIQUE D’HAITI

The Prime Minister

Port-au-Prince, July 30, 2001
(Translated)

COMMUNIQUE

The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the members of the government extend their most sincerest sympathies to the families, relatives and friends of the police officers and aspiring police officers who were wounded or killed as a result of the attack that occurred at the Police Academy and the Commissariats of Petion-ville, Mirebalais and Hinche.

Police investigations have resulted in the following summary of facts:

A.  Port-au-Prince and Petion-ville

I)  Number of assailants:  about 15

II) Number of wounded
PNH
a)  13 aspiring police officers, 1 seriously wounded
b)   police officer, seriously wounded

Assailants several, based on the testimony of doctors

III)    Number of deaths
PNH
a)  1 aspiring police officer
b)  2 police officers

Assailants
    Unknown (bodies carried away)

IV) Number of arrests: 10

B.  Mirebalais/Hinche

I)  Number of deaths
PNH
2 police officers (1 in Mirebalais and 1 in Hinche)

II) Number of arrests:  5 (Hinche)

C.  Belladères

I)  Number of deaths
Assailants:  1

II) Number of arrests: 20

An investigatory commission seated at the Ministry of Justice is charged with compiling a report on the aforementioned events.

The Government of the Republic reassures the population that police measures are being taken for their protection, and reiterates, in the spirit of peace, it call for calm and vigilance.  

    Jean-Marie P. Cherestal
                                Prime Minister