Defense

Haitian Police Respond to UN Human Rights Reports

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Departmental Directorate of the Ouest, which covers Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas responded to the United Nations report of the High Commissioner on Human Rights acknowledging that the police force in Haiti "is a young institution that has weaknesses."

"I had no opportunity either to read or to hear the report, but it's not a secret for anyone that the police is a young institution that has weaknesses," said Michelange Gedeon at a press meeting.

These weaknesses will not be corrected overnight. It requires sacrifice and a lot of effort, said the West Police Director.

"When we look from 1996 to today, we can say that the violations are less common. The police now know how to behave with those they are called to serve and those they call out, "says the officer.

Further, Mr. Gideon said he was aware of some "small misbehaviors" in the past but he invited to consider the ability of the police force to react to these cases.

"Whenever such cases occur, arrangements are made, investigations are conducted by the DCPJ and the General Inspection Office to determine the degree of involvement of policemen," concluded Mr Gedeon.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights is called for an investigation into allegations of police torture and killings in Haiti on Tuesday.

Two U.N. reports implicate 20 Haitian national police officers in six incidents that led to the unlawful deaths of nine people in the capital, Port-au-Prince, between October 2010 and June 2011.