Following the arrest on Sunday 17 February in Port-au-Prince of a commando of 8 men including 7 foreigners (5 Americans, 1 Serb and 1 Russian) equipped with weapons of war and military equipment, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26963-haiti-flash-a-mysterious-commando-of-heavily-armed-foreigners-arrested-in-port-au-prince.html , the charge of illegal possession of firearms was for the moment the only one hold against them, said Michel Ange Gédéon, General Director of the National Police of Haiti (PNH). He said that according to the evolution of the investigation of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), other charges could be added. It is also this investigation which will make it possible to determine the mission of this commando and to explain how these men entered Haiti and since when, because no seal of entry of the immigration of Haiti appear in their passports...

Commissioner Joel Casséus (24 years of police service) in charge of the Commissariat of Port-au-Prince, explained that these individuals arrested during a routine check, without opposing resistance, initially refused to identify and explain why they had weapons of war and what they were doing in Haiti, limiting themselves to telling police that they were on mission and not having to answer them "They said they were in mission for the Government," but they did not specify which Government, said Commissioner Casséus.

In a press note, Pierre Espérance, of the National Network Coordinator for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), says that "strong political pressure is exerted by the executive authorities on the police and judicial authorities to unconditionally release these people". For its part, the opposition demands that all the light be shed on this affair, which risks aggravating the crisis.

Asked about the rumors of pressure exerted by political authorities to obtain the release of these men, Michel Ange Gédéon boot touches, answering that the future of these suspects depend on the judicial authorities and the results of the investigation, without further details...

Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant said Monday evening on this case "On the case of 8 individuals arrested with heavy weapons in the country, I convened today a special meeting of the High Council of the National Police (CSPN)."

Reacting to rumors and allegations of a link between the Executive and this commando, Eddy Jackson Alexis, the Secretary of State for Communication strongly denied on Monday "The Executive Power can not engage mercenaries to come terrorize a population by which we have been mandated and we have the responsibility to serve," adding "What good is hiring mercenaries ? Justice will establish what happened and will say why these men were so heavily armed."

For its part, the US State Department, in an official statement confirms to be aware of the detention by the PNH of a group of individuals including US citizens. Clarifying that when US citizens are arrested abroad, the consular service of the Embassy contacts them as quickly as possible to provide them with the appropriate assistance in accordance with the Vienna Convention. Due to investigative considerations the State Department indicated that it did not comment.

The United States Embassy in Haiti says it can not say more, while pointing out that other issues concerning these arrests made by the PNH will be addressed ..

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26963-haiti-flash-a-mysterious-commando-of-heavily-armed-foreigners-arrested-in-port-au-prince.html

SL/ S/ HaitiLibre