Hundreds of Haitians protest UN peacekeepers accused of raping a Haitian teenager

Monday, September 5, 2011

 Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

A shocking cell phone video showing United Nation peacekeepers from Uruguay sexually abusing a young Haitian man at a U.N. base in Haiti prompted hundreds of Haitians to protest earlier today.

The attack occurred on July 20th of this year but is only now being brought to light after the video was discovered and an investigation was announced by the U.N. last week. The Uruguayan military says the incident was a prank that went to far, and the preliminary U.N. investigation yields no evidence of rape. However, the servicemen may face "severe penalties" for allowing a civilian into their barrack.

Haitian President Michel Martelly "vigorously condemned" the alleged sexual attack in the town of Port-Salut, saying it was an "act that revolts the national conscience."

Protesters in Port-Salut called for an investigation and for justice to be served to the attackers. Relations between the U.N. and Haitians have increasingly become tense. Most in the country view the U.N. "peacekeepers" as occupiers and are still upset over the cholera outbreak that was introduced to the island nation last year by U.N. workers from Nepal.

By watching the video, it is clear that it is sexual in nature, however Eliane Nabaa, a U.N. spokeswoman in Haiti said the U.N. had not come to any conclusions.

Dr. Clifford Gauthier, who examined the victim more than a month after the attack told the AP that he did find evidence of rape, even five weeks after the incident.

As a result of this incident, which is still under investigation, President Martelly has called for a reduced U.N. presence in the country, wanting troops to focus on development and leave security to the Haitians. The president has campaigned to re institute the Haitian Army, which was dissolved in 1995 due to human rights abuses.

Source : http://www.politicalfailblog.com/2011/09/hundreds-of-haitians-protest-un.html#more