Latest news with #NationalHumanRightsDefenseNetwork
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Haiti to hit pause on rebooting of a commission to disarm violent gangs
A rebooted effort in Haiti to disarm the country's criminal gangs and reintegrate child soldiers into society is getting put on hold. The government of the volatile country, whose armed gangs have been deemed by the Trump administration to be a global menace, is temporarily dissolving a disarmament commission after concerns were raised over the credibility of one of its newest appointees. The decision was confirmed to the Miami Herald by the head of the Transitional Presidential Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, on Friday, hours after the Trump administration designated several Haitian gangs as foreign and global terrorists and after the National Human Rights Defense Network blasted a decision to expand the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reinsertion by bringing on board its former commissioner. The purpose of the commission is to help reintegrate the young people and children. who are increasingly being recruited by armed groups and to facilitate the disarmament of armed groups. 'The presidential council took a resolution to dissolve the [commission] in the next minister council meeting until more additional consultations with civil society organizations and personalities in the public and private sectors,' Jean said. On Wednesday, Jean and his fellow council members appointed Jean Rebel Dorcénat, the former head of the commission and another individual to the group to bring the total membership to nine after seven others were appointed in February. The moves, Jean, said were made 'in good faith.' However, the head of the National Human Rights Defense Network, Pierre Esperance, accused the council of 'compensating' Dorcénat for his alleged ties to gangs and called on the council to reverse course. Dorcénat previously served as head of the commission after it was reactivated by Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Formed by executive order in 2006, its task is to disarm and dismantle gangs, a job that brings its members into contact with armed groups and their leaders. However, Dorcénat has long faced criticisms and accusations of being sympathetic to gang leaders based on radio nterviews he has given on the radio, and the access he has been alleged to have. Dorcénat could not be reached for comment, but in the past he has said that his comments — and role as head of the commission — have been misinterpreted, including those about his role in uniting the capital's main gang leaders under the G-9 Family and Allies umbrella. The alliance is headed by former policeman Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier, who in September 2023 joined forces with other gang leaders to help create Viv Ansanm, the powerful coalition sowing chaos in Port-au-Prince and whose name translates to Living Together. A 2020 article in Haiti's Le Nouvelliste newspaper, following a radio interview Dorcénat did on its Magik 9 radio station, quoted him as assisting in the formation of the G-9 by asking Chérizier and other gang leaders to come together under a single platform in order to better facilitate negotiations with them. 'They are federated because we have a job to do with them,' he was quoted as saying at the time. He added that the goal was to stop the gangs from killing. Esperance, who blasted the decision in a letter to Jean and the council, said the consolidation of Haiti's gangs has given birth to a coalition of murderers and kidnappers who have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, led to the lost of thousands of lives and livelihoods and brought an entire nation to its knees. 'Everyone can see that after the gangs federated, they became more heavily armed, and were implicated in more kidnappings and carried out more massacres,' Esperance said. 'At this moment, when the United Nations has taken sanctions against them and the U.S. has designated them as terrorists, for the [Transitional Presidential Council] to put him on the disarmament commission—this is a slap in the face of all of the victims and to everyone who is living under the terror of the gangs.' On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which includes the G-9 and 26 other armed groups, and the Gran Grif gang, operating in Haiti's Artibonite region, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The label gives the U.S. wide latitude and opens anyone providing material support to sanctions, criminal charges and deportations if they live in the United States. They can also be banned from entering the U.S. The designations was met with few public statements but lots of private chatter as many people in Haiti's business and humanitarian communities try to understand the meaning and implications for their dealings in the country. In a joint statement, two political entities in Haiti said they welcome the 'historic decision' but added it doesn't go far enough. The designations need to be accompanied by an international plan aimed 'at effectively eradicating in the coming months criminal groups that have taken our beautiful country hostage,' the statement signed by four leaders representing the groups known as the December 21 coalition and the EDE political party said. Earlier this year, both asked the Trump administration to label Haitian gangs as foreign terrorists. Jean, the president of the ruling council, said the designation is a recognition of the complexity of the country's ongoing crisis, but also presents a conundrum given armed gangs tightening grip and recent expansion into other regions of the country, which has led to millions of Haitians requiring humanitarian assistance. But as the country relied on international assistance such as the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian national police and Haiti's small armed forces, Jean said, 'we believe that our international partners did not fully comprehend the full extent of the crisis and the nature of the violence in Haiti. The foreign terrorist designation, he said, 'is a recognition of the reality of the crisis we are facing.'
Miami Herald
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Haiti to hit pause on rebooting of a commission to disarm violent gangs
A rebooted effort in Haiti to disarm the country's criminal gangs and reintegrate child soldiers into society is getting put on hold. The government of the volatile country, whose armed gangs have been deemed by the Trump administration to be a global menace, is temporarily dissolving a disarmament commission after concerns were raised over the credibility of one of its newest appointees. The decision was confirmed to the Miami Herald by the head of the Transitional Presidential Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, on Friday, hours after the Trump administration designated several Haitian gangs as foreign and global terrorists and after the National Human Rights Defense Network blasted a decision to expand the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reinsertion by bringing on board its former commissioner. The purpose of the commission is to help reintegrate the young people and children. who are increasingly being recruited by armed groups and to facilitate the disarmament of armed groups. 'The presidential council took a resolution to dissolve the [commission] in the next minister council meeting until more additional consultations with civil society organizations and personalities in the public and private sectors,' Jean said. On Wednesday, Jean and his fellow council members appointed Jean Rebel Dorcénat, the former head of the commission and another individual to the group to bring the total membership to nine after seven others were appointed in February. The moves, Jean, said were made 'in good faith.' However, the head of the National Human Rights Defense Network, Pierre Esperance, accused the council of 'compensating' Dorcénat for his alleged ties to gangs and called on the council to reverse course. Dorcénat previously served as head of the commission after it was reactivated by Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Formed by executive order in 2006, its task is to disarm and dismantle gangs, a job that brings its members into contact with armed groups and their leaders. However, Dorcénat has long faced criticisms and accusations of being sympathetic to gang leaders based on radio nterviews he has given on the radio, and the access he has been alleged to have. Dorcénat could not be reached for comment, but in the past he has said that his comments — and role as head of the commission — have been misinterpreted, including those about his role in uniting the capital's main gang leaders under the G-9 Family and Allies umbrella. The alliance is headed by former policeman Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier, who in September 2023 joined forces with other gang leaders to help create Viv Ansanm, the powerful coalition sowing chaos in Port-au-Prince and whose name translates to Living Together. A 2020 article in Haiti's Le Nouvelliste newspaper, following a radio interview Dorcénat did on its Magik 9 radio station, quoted him as assisting in the formation of the G-9 by asking Chérizier and other gang leaders to come together under a single platform in order to better facilitate negotiations with them. 'They are federated because we have a job to do with them,' he was quoted as saying at the time. He added that the goal was to stop the gangs from killing. Esperance, who blasted the decision in a letter to Jean and the council, said the consolidation of Haiti's gangs has given birth to a coalition of murderers and kidnappers who have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, led to the lost of thousands of lives and livelihoods and brought an entire nation to its knees. 'Everyone can see that after the gangs federated, they became more heavily armed, and were implicated in more kidnappings and carried out more massacres,' Esperance said. 'At this moment, when the United Nations has taken sanctions against them and the U.S. has designated them as terrorists, for the [Transitional Presidential Council] to put him on the disarmament commission—this is a slap in the face of all of the victims and to everyone who is living under the terror of the gangs.' On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which includes the G-9 and 26 other armed groups, and the Gran Grif gang, operating in Haiti's Artibonite region, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The label gives the U.S. wide latitude and opens anyone providing material support to sanctions, criminal charges and deportations if they live in the United States. They can also be banned from entering the U.S. The designations was met with few public statements but lots of private chatter as many people in Haiti's business and humanitarian communities try to understand the meaning and implications for their dealings in the country. In a joint statement, two political entities in Haiti said they welcome the 'historic decision' but added it doesn't go far enough. The designations need to be accompanied by an international plan aimed 'at effectively eradicating in the coming months criminal groups that have taken our beautiful country hostage,' the statement signed by four leaders representing the groups known as the December 21 coalition and the EDE political party said. Earlier this year, both asked the Trump administration to label Haitian gangs as foreign terrorists. Jean, the president of the ruling council, said the designation is a recognition of the complexity of the country's ongoing crisis, but also presents a conundrum given armed gangs tightening grip and recent expansion into other regions of the country, which has led to millions of Haitians requiring humanitarian assistance. But as the country relied on international assistance such as the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian national police and Haiti's small armed forces, Jean said, 'we believe that our international partners did not fully comprehend the full extent of the crisis and the nature of the violence in Haiti. The foreign terrorist designation, he said, 'is a recognition of the reality of the crisis we are facing.'
NBC News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Haitian government adopts a ‘war budget' as town after town falls to gangs
Haiti's government announced Monday that it approved what it called a 'war budget' of $275,000 aimed at alleviating the country's crisis as gang violence surges. Nearly 40% of the money will go toward Haiti's police and military 'to fight the armed groups that threaten national stability,' while nearly 20% will go to fortify the border the country shares with the Dominican Republic, Haiti's transitional presidential council said in a statement. Another 16% will go to social programs, including those focused on education, health and humanitarian assistance. The council said the special budget reflects the state's commitment to act decisively and target the growing insecurity. The additional money, however, is not expected to alleviate the lack of resources hitting a U.N.-backed mission, led by Kenyan police, which is struggling to help local authorities quell gang violence. Gangs that control at least 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to attack communities surrounding it. Recently, a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm took control of the towns of Mirebalais and Saut'd'Eau in Haiti's central region, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network, a local group. Police officers at the Mirebalais police station and local prison fled during the attacks, it said. 'Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates,' the organization said, noting that the prison held 533 inmates. Staff and patients at the Mirebalais University Hospital also were evacuated. At least 60 people died following the attacks launched on March 30 and 31, including gang members and escaped inmates, according to the human rights group. Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Saut-d'Eau fell to gangs on the afternoon of April 3, activists said. 'Some say this was facilitated by the redeployment of law enforcement to Mirebalais, leaving Saut-d'Eau vulnerable,' the group said last week. Two nuns and one police officer were among those killed during the attacks, while two journalists remain missing. 'By ignoring the (central region's) collapse the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens' rights and public safety,' the human rights group said. 'The absence of state response has turned the police into firefighters — constantly reacting without strategic direction — while towns fall one after another.' The group noted that civilians and self-defense groups in both towns 'had repeatedly raised alarms that were ignored.' Meanwhile, more than 260 people were killed in another gang attack on two communities in Haiti's capital in late January, according to the U.N. political mission in Haiti that questioned the delay in response by authorities. The attacks occurred in Kenscoff and parts of Carrefour. Another community in Kenscoff was attacked over the weekend, with at least one police officer missing and several others injured, according to SPNH-17, a police union. Overall, from Jan. 1 to March 27, more than 1,500 people have been reported killed across Haiti, and 572 others injured, the U.N. mission said. Gang violence has also left more than 1 million people homeless in recent years, according to the U.N.
Arab Times
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Haiti's government adopts ‘war budget' as town after town falls to gangs
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 15, (AP): Haiti's government announced Monday that it approved what it called a "war budget' of $275,000 aimed at alleviating the country's crisis as gang violence surges. Nearly 40% of the money will go toward Haiti's police and military "to fight the armed groups that threaten national stability,' while nearly 20% will go to fortify the border the country shares with the Dominican Republic, Haiti's transitional presidential council said in a statement. Another 16% will go to social programs, including those focused on education, health and humanitarian assistance. The council said the special budget reflects the state's commitment to act decisively and target the growing insecurity. The additional money, however, is not expected to alleviate the lack of resources hitting a UN-backed mission, led by Kenyan police, which is struggling to help local authorities quell gang violence. Gangs that control at least 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to attack communities surrounding it. Recently, a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm took control of the towns of Mirebalais and Saut'd'Eau in Haiti's central region, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network, a local group. Police officers at the Mirebalais police station and local prison fled during the attacks, it said. "Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates,' the organization said, noting that the prison held 533 inmates. Staff and patients at the Mirebalais University Hospital also were evacuated. At least 60 people died following the attacks launched on March 30 and 31, including gang members and escaped inmates, according to the human rights group. Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Saut-d'Eau fell to gangs on the afternoon of April 3, activists said. "Some say this was facilitated by the redeployment of law enforcement to Mirebalais, leaving Saut-d'Eau vulnerable,' the group said last week. Two nuns and one police officer were among those killed during the attacks, while two journalists remain missing. "By ignoring the (central region's) collapse the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens' rights and public safety,' the human rights group said. "The absence of state response has turned the police into firefighters - constantly reacting without strategic direction - while towns fall one after another.'
Korea Herald
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Haiti's government adopts 'war budget'
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Haiti's government announced Monday that it approved what it called a 'war budget' of $275,000 aimed at alleviating the country's crisis as gang violence surges. Nearly 40 percent of the money will go toward Haiti's police and military 'to fight the armed groups that threaten national stability,' while nearly 20 percent will go to fortify the border the country shares with the Dominican Republic, Haiti's transitional presidential council said in a statement. Another 16 percent will go to social programs, including those focused on education, health and humanitarian assistance. The council said the special budget reflects the state's commitment to act decisively and target the growing insecurity. The additional money, however, is not expected to alleviate the lack of resources hitting a United Nations-backed mission, led by Kenyan police, which is struggling to help local authorities quell gang violence. Gangs that control at least 85 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to attack communities surrounding it. Recently, a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm took control of the towns of Mirebalais and Saut'd'Eau in Haiti's central region, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network, a local group. Police officers at the Mirebalais police station and local prison fled during the attacks, it said. 'Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates,' the organization said, noting that the prison held 533 inmates. Staff and patients at the Mirebalais University Hospital also were evacuated. At least 60 people died following the attacks launched on March 30 and 31, including gang members and escaped inmates, according to the human rights group. Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Saut-d'Eau fell to gangs on the afternoon of April 3, activists said. 'Some say this was facilitated by the redeployment of law enforcement to Mirebalais, leaving Saut-d'Eau vulnerable,' the group said. Two nuns and one police officer were among those killed during the attacks, while two journalists remain missing. 'By ignoring the (central region's) collapse the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens' rights and public safety,' the human rights group said. 'The absence of state response has turned the police into firefighters — constantly reacting without strategic direction — while towns fall one after another.' The group noted that civilians and self-defense groups in both towns 'had repeatedly raised alarms that were ignored.' Meanwhile, more than 260 people were killed in another gang attack on two communities in Haiti's capital in late January, according to the UN political mission in Haiti that questioned the delay in response by authorities. The attacks occurred in Kenscoff and parts of Carrefour. Another community in Kenscoff was attacked over the weekend, with at least one police officer missing and several others injured, according to SPNH-17, a police union. Overall, from Jan. 1 to March 27, more than 1,500 people have been reported killed across Haiti, and 572 others injured, the UN mission said. Gang violence has also left more than 1 million people homeless in recent years, according to the UN.
