New report suggests violence has become much worse in Haiti since Canadian intervention: Knowledge Driven Revolution

An estimated 8 000 individuals were murdered in the 22 months following the US- and Canada-backed overthrow of the government led by Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a new report suggests. The study, based on randomized interviews with Port-au-Prince residents conducted by The Lancet, a prestigious UK-based medical journal, also estimated that 35,000 women were victims of sexual assault during the same period.

The report has revived criticisms of Canadian policy in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. At the time of the coup, documents acquired by the Dominion expressed the view that “President Aristide is clearly a serious aggravating factor in the current crisis,” though officials at the time publicly denied backing the coup.

The findings, however, suggest that the situation for Haitian residents of Port-au-Prince became perilously worse after Canada intervened and Aristide was removed from the country. Specific reports of Canadian troops sexually harassing local women have been cited by the Ottawa Citizen, but some critics have called attention to Canada’s broader responsibilities for the humanitarian crisis.

RCMP officers have been responsible for vetting and training the Haitian National Police, the force that The Lancet study cites as being responsible for significant and systematic human rights abuses.

“This study confirms what Canadian politicians such as Denis Coderre, Paul Martin and Peter Mackay have persistently denied: the interim government and their paramilitary allies waged a massive campaign of repression against Haiti’s poor,” Bianca Mugyenyi of Haiti Action Montreal said in a communiqué.

“Canada helped overthrow the elected government,...led the UN police contingent, yet refuses to take any responsibility for the vast human rights abuses,” said Nik Barry-Shaw, of the same group.

Official response has been minimal; the Montreal Gazette quoted one government representative as asking for a delay in publication to provide time to address the findings.

Read the full article here

Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here.

Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
HOME V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	New report suggests violence has become much worse in Haiti since Canadian intervention Dru Oja Jay - The Dominion via theFilter.ca September 11, 2006 An estimated 8 000 individuals were murdered in the 22 months following the US- and Canada-backed overthrow of the government led by Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a new report suggests. The study, based on randomized interviews with Port-au-Prince residents conducted by The Lancet, a prestigious UK-based medical journal, also estimated that 35,000 women were victims of sexual assault during the same period. The report has revived criticisms of Canadian policy in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. At the time of the coup, documents acquired by the Dominion expressed the view that “President Aristide is clearly a serious aggravating factor in the current crisis,” though officials at the time publicly denied backing the coup. The findings, however, suggest that the situation for Haitian residents of Port-au-Prince became perilously worse after Canada intervened and Aristide was removed from the country. Specific reports of Canadian troops sexually harassing local women have been cited by the Ottawa Citizen, but some critics have called attention to Canada’s broader responsibilities for the humanitarian crisis. RCMP officers have been responsible for vetting and training the Haitian National Police, the force that The Lancet study cites as being responsible for significant and systematic human rights abuses. “This study confirms what Canadian politicians such as Denis Coderre, Paul Martin and Peter Mackay have persistently denied: the interim government and their paramilitary allies waged a massive campaign of repression against Haiti’s poor,” Bianca Mugyenyi of Haiti Action Montreal said in a communiqué. “Canada helped overthrow the elected government,...led the UN police contingent, yet refuses to take any responsibility for the vast human rights abuses,” said Nik Barry-Shaw, of the same group. Official response has been minimal; the Montreal Gazette quoted one government representative as asking for a delay in publication to provide time to address the findings. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
		What Is Wrong With Canada ? Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
		July August September 2006 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Weekly Features 2006 2005 Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
		Counter
Copyright © 2005-6 KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com