by Yves Pierre-Louis (Haiti Liberte)
In Saint-Marc, Dieudaline
Jérôme, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, was killed on Fri., Jan. 25, 2013 by a
vehicle driven by soldiers of the UN Mission to Stabilize Haiti (MINUSTAH), as
the foreign forces occupying Haiti are called. At around 8 a.m., a Nissan
Patrol SUV with UN license plate 24499 struck the motorcycle carrying
Dieudaline to school. The motorcycle driver was seriously injured, while
Dieudaline, who was sitting on the back, was mortally wounded. Although she was
urgently transported to the hospital, she could not be saved.
Jérôme, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, was killed on Fri., Jan. 25, 2013 by a
vehicle driven by soldiers of the UN Mission to Stabilize Haiti (MINUSTAH), as
the foreign forces occupying Haiti are called. At around 8 a.m., a Nissan
Patrol SUV with UN license plate 24499 struck the motorcycle carrying
Dieudaline to school. The motorcycle driver was seriously injured, while
Dieudaline, who was sitting on the back, was mortally wounded. Although she was
urgently transported to the hospital, she could not be saved.
The
tragic death of this young girl has once again stirred the anger of Haitians
against the presence of UN forces on Haitian territory. The population of Saint-Marc
took to the streets to demand the departure of “peacekeepers,” throwing stones
at their base and vehicles and paralyzing all activities in the town.
tragic death of this young girl has once again stirred the anger of Haitians
against the presence of UN forces on Haitian territory. The population of Saint-Marc
took to the streets to demand the departure of “peacekeepers,” throwing stones
at their base and vehicles and paralyzing all activities in the town.
“MINUSTAH
has come and sown grief in Haitian families,” said one demonstrator. “It
brought cholera to Haiti, which continues to kill Haitians. Today, it is their
vehicle that kills us. The Haitian people must rise up to demand the
unconditional departure of UN soldiers.”
has come and sown grief in Haitian families,” said one demonstrator. “It
brought cholera to Haiti, which continues to kill Haitians. Today, it is their
vehicle that kills us. The Haitian people must rise up to demand the
unconditional departure of UN soldiers.”
The
MINUSTAH deployed in Haiti almost nine years ago, following the Feb. 29, 2004
coup d’état against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has committed
various massacres around Haiti, killing hundreds of people. Furthermore, it is
implicated in the hanging death of Gérald Jean Gilles, a 16-year-old boy, in
the MINUSTAH base in Cap-Haïtien in 2008, and the gang rape of 18-year old
Johnny Jean in Port-Salut in 2011.
MINUSTAH deployed in Haiti almost nine years ago, following the Feb. 29, 2004
coup d’état against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has committed
various massacres around Haiti, killing hundreds of people. Furthermore, it is
implicated in the hanging death of Gérald Jean Gilles, a 16-year-old boy, in
the MINUSTAH base in Cap-Haïtien in 2008, and the gang rape of 18-year old
Johnny Jean in Port-Salut in 2011.
Meanwhile,
some 8,000 Haitians have died from the on-going cholera epidemic which the
MINUSTAH imported into Haiti in October 2010. In November 2011, a legal complaint
was duly filed with the United Nations in Haiti and New York to demand that the
UN take responsibility for the epidemic and compensate victims. Until now, the
UN has given no response.
some 8,000 Haitians have died from the on-going cholera epidemic which the
MINUSTAH imported into Haiti in October 2010. In November 2011, a legal complaint
was duly filed with the United Nations in Haiti and New York to demand that the
UN take responsibility for the epidemic and compensate victims. Until now, the
UN has given no response.
“For
complaints about cholera, they must be filed in New York, at the Office of
Legal Affairs,” said MINUSTAH’s Chilean chief Mariano Fernandez. “That is where
to make a claim.”
complaints about cholera, they must be filed in New York, at the Office of
Legal Affairs,” said MINUSTAH’s Chilean chief Mariano Fernandez. “That is where
to make a claim.”
Therein
lies the absurdity meant to discourage victims. When a crime is committed on
Haitian soil, Haitians are told to file complaints in New York. Is that now
what the family of Dieudaline Jérôme must do to find justice and redress?
lies the absurdity meant to discourage victims. When a crime is committed on
Haitian soil, Haitians are told to file complaints in New York. Is that now
what the family of Dieudaline Jérôme must do to find justice and redress?
The nine-year MINUSTAH military occupation of Haiti has brought
massacres, rapes, and a cholera epidemic. An tragic accident in St. Marc has
renewed calls for UN troops to leave.
massacres, rapes, and a cholera epidemic. An tragic accident in St. Marc has
renewed calls for UN troops to leave.
