Peacekeepers in Haiti face sex attack inquiry

[EFerrari]

The United Nations is investigating an alleged sexual assault on an 18-year-old Haitian man by Uruguayan soldiers.
Ansel Herz Last Modified: 03 Sep 2011 06:37

The UN is investigating accusations that Uruguayan peacekeepers sexually assaulted an 18-year-old Haitian man after alleged footage of the incident was circulated in the country on mobile phones.

"We're aware of this alleged incident. As soon as it was brought to our attention we immediately launched an internal investigation," Eliana Nabaa, spokeswoman for the UN's Haiti peacekeeping mission, MINUSTAH, said on Friday.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse and we take it extremely seriously. If the allegations are proved, the soldiers must be brought to justice," she said.

A Haitian magistrate told the AFP news agency on Friday that he had turned the case over to prosecutors after viewing the evidence and after the alleged victim and his parents gave depositions in a courthouse in Port Salut, the southern seaside town where the alleged sex attack is said to have occurred.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/20119225453490311.html?utm_content=automateplus&utm_campaign=Trial5&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_term=tweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

And this on the heels of a Wikileak 2006 cable that acknowledges widespread abuse including sexual exploitation by UN personnel.

Snip

5. In its report, OIOS found that various forms of
misconduct existed to varying degrees in all missions. While
acknowledging that efforts had been made to address the
problem, OIOS made a number of observations on the UN,s lack
of capacity and absence of provisions to adequately and
comprehensively address misconduct. Among other things, OIOS
concluded that guidance from Headquarters was inadequate in
terms of policies, procedures and guidelines; enforcement of
policies and procedures at Headquarters and in the field was
poor; and resources and skills were insufficient to prevent
misconduct and to enforce standards of conduct. OIOS also
noted that while management had made some efforts to address
the problem, these efforts were made mainly in reaction to
events and negative publicity and were inconsistent across
missions. Based on the results of its reviews, OIOS issued
19 individual reports to management in the field recommending
corrective actions.

http://cables.mrkva.eu/cable.php?id=62995

[Judi Lynn]

1. Unforgivable acts from people who should never been allowed power over Haitian people.

Is no one going to stop them?

If Haitians try to protect themselves they will be shot, no doubt.

Apparently the official position is to do nothing, and allow the troops to keep molesting, beating, raping, impregnating, and abusing without mercy the same people they're pretending to "protect."

[Judi Lynn]

2. Invisible rec, apparently following an unrec by a racist occupation rape supporter. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Uruguay sacks UN official in Haiti sex attack probe

Uruguay sacks UN official in Haiti sex attack probe
Published on 5 September 2011 - 1:04am

Uruguay announced it has sacked a navy commander with the UN mission in Haiti after a video was circulated of an alleged sexual assault on a young Haitian man by members of a Uruguayan peacekeeping unit.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that in addition to the dismissal of the official -- who was not immediately named -- a military justice board had been convened and paperwork for the return home of the five allegedly involved had been started.

"The navy wants to go beyond the simple fact of the video (to determine) if there are other violations of conduct," spokesman Sergio Bique told local media. The suspects will be tried and sentenced appropriately, he stressed.

In Haiti, Magistrate Paul Tarte said Friday that officials were examining testimony from the alleged suspect and images of the incident taken by a cell telephone camera at the base in southern Haiti, which have also been circulated on the Internet. Medical evidence of the attack also was obtained.

More:
http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/uruguay-sacks-un-official-haiti-sex-attack-probe-0

[EFerrari]

4. Apparently the rule of law still works in Uruguay.

Good news.