UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned the weekend murders of at least 40 people during a string of brutal incidents and ongoing gang violence that have plagued the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
In a statement, Guterres expressed “heartfelt condolences” to the victims’ families and urged Haitian authorities to pursue justice.
“The Secretary-General is alarmed by the levels of violence rocking Haiti,” said Stéphane Dujarric,” the UN spokesman, adding “he calls on Member States to expedite support for the Multinational Security Support mission to assist the Haitian National Police.”
Two weeks ago, Guterres addressed the UN Security Council, painting a grim picture of Haiti’s unraveling state.
“The state authority is crumbling,” he said, as armed groups tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, forcing families to flee and disrupting daily life.
With six million people in need of aid and 1.3 million displaced, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis is deepening. Yet less than ten per cent of the $908 million appeal has been funded.
“Shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded,” the UN chief said, warning that 1.7 million people may receive no assistance at all.
Guterres is calling on member states to accelerate efforts to strengthen the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) by providing it with the necessary logistics, personnel, and funding to effectively support the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence in Haiti, in full compliance with international human rights law.
Last weekend, in Labodrie, a small village located between Arcahaie and Cabaret, heavily armed terrorist groups affiliated with the criminal coalition “Viv Ansanm” are being blamed for the massacre, as they fired indiscriminately at residents they accused of being police informants.
According to a provisional report by Baptiste Joseph Louis, President of the Administrative Council of the Communal Sections (CASEC) of Boucassin, at least 42 bodies have already been counted, including children.
An unknown number of people have been injured. Several others are missing. Houses have been burned. Survivors are attempting to flee the area, while the attackers are still present.
According to witnesses, the attack was in retaliation for the death of Vladimyr Pierre, alias “Vlad” the second leader of the Cabaret gang, and several of his men, killed on September 7 during clashes with law enforcement.
Looting, fires, rape, and summary executions have plunged the area into mourning and terror. Tensions remain high, with residents fearing a new wave of executions.
The United States and Panama have a presented a resolution to the UN Security Council, but it appears that China and Russia are hesitant to support the resolution aimed at creating a “Gang Suppression Force” in Haiti to deal with the gangs that have been designated foreign terrorist organizations and global terrorists by the State Department.
This new “Gang Repression Force” foresees up to 5 500 troops on the ground and the establishment of a UN Support Office that would cover structural, logistical, and operational expenses from UN funds. Salaries would continue to be paid voluntarily by friendly countries through the existing Trust Fund.
The White House considers the situation in Haiti as a threat to its national security and has therefore decided to refer the matter to the United Nations.
The United States has the support of France and the United Kingdom, but needs that of China and Russia for the resolution to be approved. The UN Security Council has five permanent members with veto power, namely China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. If one of these members vetoes the bill, it is rejected.
Political observers say the difficulty is that China and Russia disagree with President Donald Trump on other political issues with China questioning the tariffs imposed on Chinese exports, and Russia against the military support and the White House’s threat of tougher sanctions if Russia does not make peace with Ukraine. (CMC)
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