[News] Deaths reported as UN enters Haiti slum

[News at freedomarchives.org]

December 14, 2004

Deaths reported as UN enters Haiti slum

Haiti Information Project (HIP)

Port au Prince, Haiti(HIP)- Sustained and heavy
gunfire erupted in the pro-Aristide slum of Cite
Soleil at about 3 a.m. this morning and was followed
by an incursion into the area by hundreds of Brazilian
and Jordanian troops of the United Nations.

Cite Soleil has been among the launching sites for
recent protests demanding the return of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide and is where he announced his
first campaign for public office in 1990. Aristide was
ousted last February 29th amid charges he was
kidnapped by U.S. Marines and remains a guest of the
Republic of South Africa where he resides.

One foreign witness stated, "I have never heard this
level of gunfire since I have been here. It was heavy
gunfire that lasted about three hours." Residents
accused a gang they referred to as Baz Labanye of
having committed a massacre early this morning against
supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's
Lavalas party to justify the armed incursion of United
Nation's forces. One angry man exclaimed, "Baz
Labanye, controlled by Andre Apaid and Reginald Boulos
[of the former opposition], began a heavy attack
against us and many people were killed. The United
Nations then used this as a pretext to invade our
neighborhood and end our calls for Aristide's return.
It is clear they are working together to exterminate
us."

Brazilian and Jordanian troops entered the area with
armored personnel carriers later in the morning and
began shooting into the air to disperse a spontaneous
demonstration that erupted against their presence.
Witnesses reported that several more Lavalas
supporters were killed after UN troops exchanged
gunfire with unidentified gunmen who shot towards
them.

Violence in Haiti's capital has increased since
September 30th after police opened fire on unarmed
demonstrators demanding Aristide's return. Most of the
poor slums, where the majority of the capital's
population live, remain under a virtual state of siege
by the Police Nationale de Haiti (PNH) assisted by
troops of the UN peacekeeping force.






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The Haiti Information Project (HIP) is a non-profit alternative news 
service providing coverage and analysis of breaking developments in Haiti.

Contact: haitiinformationproject at yahoo.com

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