I'm afraid you have been misinformed by politically motivated groups. I am apalled to see how some people support criminal, violent, human-rights violation activities in Haiti and oppose the rule of law.  Gangsters, killers, kidnappers, rapist of young girls should and will be brought to justice.

  Clarification on the joint PNH/MINUSTAH operation in Cité Soleil

Port-au-Prince, December 26, 2006 - In response to a request from the Government of Haiti, the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) accompanied the Haitian National Police (HNP) in a large scale operation last Friday December 22, in the areas of Bois Neuf and Drouillard (Cité Soleil). This operation was part of the strategy to fight crime and insecurity, seen in the recent wave of kidnappings in Port-au-Prince. MINUSTAH would like to clarify following issues:

·        In several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, the population is being held hostage by armed groups of criminals who murder, rape and extort to run their operations. These bandits reject the application of the rule of law in their neighborhoods.

·        In the course of the December 22 operation, the gang leader Belony and his members -accused of terrorizing the population and holding hostages- opened fire at MINUSTAH soldiers, maintaining this fire for several hours. The UN soldiers responded with respect to the rules of engagement, which stipulate that they may return fire after identifying the direction and source of shots.

·        The information available indicates that some members of Belony’s gang were killed or wounded after opening fire on MINUSTAH.

·        Contrary to some media reports, MINUSTAH helicopters, which flew surveillance over the area, at no time, shot at houses in Cité Soleil.

·        As dictated by the rules of engagement, MINUSTAH did not obstruct at any time the work of Haitian Red Cross personnel which was able to evacuate wounded to hospitals without any problem.

·        In recent weeks, there has been a significant rise in unprovoked attacks against MINUSTAH peacekeepers. On December 21, a MINUSTAH vehicle was targeted by armed gangs in Cité Soleil. Last month alone, two Jordanian soldiers were killed.  

MINUSTAH remains determined nevertheless to carry out its operations in support of the HNP. The Mission calls once again on the population to identify these criminals.  To request assistance or provide information regarding any criminal acts, please call these numbers:

- Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire (DCPJ) at 250-3630
- MINUSTAH (Je Wè Bouch Pale) at 244-3503