UN soldier points gun at journalist in Port-au-Prince, Haiti 2006

I was part of an international delegation that went to Haiti August 2006. We happened upon a UN operation in progress and started filming. They ignored us, mostly. As we were leaving the area a Haitian journalist who was part of our delegation was filming when a soldier decided to run towards him and point his gun at him.

For more info:
Democracy Now, August 31, 2006
http://bit.ly/dudKa5

"United Nations troops in Haiti opened fire last week on a poor neighborhood outside of Cite Soleil. We show footage of the raid, speak with a writer and activist who witnessed the raid and hear from the mother of a nineteen year-old who was killed in the raid."
http://www.democracynow.org/2006/8/31/eyewitnesses_account_un_forces_open_fire

Here's a report from Haitian News about events that occurred in the neighborhood with the UN that day.
Locals accused MINUSTAH (UN soldiers) of causing insecurity in the neighborhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAq8-LjQqvQ&feature=related

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• MINIUSTAH
• repression
• points gun at
• journalist
• Port-au-Prince
• Haiti
• 2006
• soldier
• aggression
• poor neighborhoods
• UN soldiers

[j0j063]

Perhaps Uruguayan UN troops in Haiti laughed while they 'raped' 18 yr old Haitian boy cuz they know anyone can abuse Haitians with impunity. Have you seen the video? It's hideous.Today I read Uruguayans released from prison. Haitians are outraged.

The pattern of bad behavior towards Haitians/impunity needs to stop.

This is why we film what happens in "conflict zones."

Nepalese UN troops were filmed dumping cholera infested feces into river where Haitians drink. 7000 Haitians dead now.

[j0j063]

From Guardian: On Jan 7, 2006 UN General Bacellar was found dead in his suite, a bullet through his head, had been sitting in a chair on his balcony, apparently reading. Initially called "firearm accident." WikiLeaks cable reveals Dominican President Fernandez inquired, expressed skepticism, suspected Bacellar assassinated by "small group in Haiti dedicated to creating chaos"...only name Fernandez suggested was former soldier Guy Phillipe = anti-Aristide "rebel" leader" [& ally to Apaid/Boulos]

[j0j063]

From Guardian: "UN Brazilian General Ribeiro had voiced trepidation about causing unnecessary casualties & more importantly, being hauled before an internatl court for war crimes"...later he was cycled out & replaced by General Bacellar "who was also reluctant to use force...but pressure from DC for "robust" action contind. In late Dec 2005 he had tense meeting with UN/coup regime officials/rightwing businesss elite, Reginald Boulos & Andy Apaid who made strident calls in media for UN crackdown"

[j0j063]

Yes, that's my point. It's not a good idea for UN troops to parachute into a situation they know nothing about & not even speak the language. It's hella convenient though for the people who are using the muscle to gain political/financial control over resource extraction. Haiti's notoriously corrupt, death squad toting elite can't get elected so their US partners whip up a coup, call in UN troops. Google wikileaks "suicide" of UNBrazilian general Bacellar. Who were the last people to visit him?

[j0j063]

MeatVision, you're biased. Truth is you know nothing about this particular situation but you're venturing a guess as though you do. A journalist told me UN troops did this all the time to him-he has it on film. And it's an intimidation tactic, not a perimeter tactic.

"Don't stain the good people of Blue Helmets?" Why did the Uruguayans laugh while they 'raped' the 18 yr old Haitian young man? Why did UN cops let HNP execute prisoners?

Google "Keeping the Peace in Haiti? Harvard 2005"

[arctictimberwolf]

@MeatVision If I ever see a blue hat on American soil that hat will come off with high caliber.

[MeatVision]

@j0j063 you are talking about one incident, but you forget that you have an entire force behind. Did you see americans as peacecorps? Did you see british soldiers? NO, they send emerging military forces to help in a conflict unknown area. I would like to see what would you do if you are dropped from a helicopter in the middle of a conflict, in a place you dont know if the people is friendly or not.

[MeatVision]

This video is biased. Hes not aiming at you, hes just securing the perimeter for deployment and THEN fade to black. Did they shoot the camera? NO. Dont stain the good people of Blue Helmets, they are sent to keep the fucking things cool where nobody wants to go. They make a great job and, offcourse, sometimes they have to use force. Not in this case.

[j0j063]

@AlbertoGaleazzo It's really important for people to go to conflict areas and document what they find.

For example, On December 14, 2011 three Haitian citizens were beaten by UN officers from a vehicle with license plate UN 24775 or UN 24757. The National Human Rights Defense Network wrote a report about this on the 16th, "RNDDH condemns the involvement of MINUSTAH agents in yet another violation of human rights." Without witnesses and reportage how would this situation come to light?

[j0j063]

@AlbertoGaleazzo Anything that happens anywhere on the planet is a potential news story. If you don't like it don't engage in criminal or inappropriate behavior.

Now we hear (via written allegations by UN cops) that UN cops sat by & watched while Haitian National Police EXECUTED prisoners held in detention (At 9:53, Flashpoints Daily Newsmagazine 12-29-11).

Without reporters in conflict zones it's too easy for this kind of stuff to go on.