Haitians are living in a “hell on earth,” says William O’Neill, a United Nations’ expert on human rights, as gangs violently terrorize and extort money from vulnerable people, in a nation also plagued by political corruption. Haiti has also just instituted a three-month state of emergency because of the escalating gang violence.
O’Neill comments come as the Trump Administration is signing on purportedly to a United Nations plan to tackle violent gangs in Haiti—and as Trump’s friend, Erik Prince, is pledging to keep his mercenary forces into Haiti, possibly, for the next decade.
In a Miami Herald interview, a state department spokesperson said, “The United States intends to share a draft U.N. Security Council Resolution with the U.N. Security Council that establishes a U.N. Support Office for a multinational security force in Haiti. There must be concrete commitments from other regional partners and stakeholders – including robust financial and contributing force commitments.” The spokesperson praised “the dedication of the courageous members” of the Kenyan force and the Haitian police.
The spokesperson also said, “The United States continues to support the Haitian government’s efforts to defeat the gangs and restore stability in the country and our region.”
Some argue that the Kenyan peacekeeping forces, and the Haitian police, have not been adequately supported to fight the gang problem.
The intervention of Blackwater (now called Constellis) founder Erik Prince, in Haiti, is causing concern among human rights advocates.
Author Jake Johnston said, “People are desperate for solutions, for help, for anything … People are willing to accept things they wouldn’t have been willing to accept not that long ago because of the desperation. I can understand the level of trauma and desperation. But is this really a solution? What kind of a message does this send to … domestic forces that are underresourced and feeling like they are not supported?”
This week the U.S. government also announced a $5 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier.
To Support our independent investigative journalism contributions are welcome via Cashapp to: $BlackStarNews
Also support Black Star News by buying merch from our brand new Black Star Store!
