Report by church commissions documents surge in killings in Haiti

Published: 2004-05-12

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) -- A report by two church commissions reveals a surge in killings in the Port-au-Prince area in February and March. The report said some of the killings can be attributed to firearms distributed to Lavalas Family party supporters before the Feb. 29 ouster of their leader, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The report records at least 302 victims of executions. It also affirmed that Aristide supporters pillaged police armories in the capital and stole private security guards' arms days before the president's departure. "Most of the victims of the violence documented were victims of firearms," the report said. "This shows how easily firearms become an instrument to settle disputes and take human lives." The report, released May 4, was published by the justice and peace commissions of the Haitian bishops' conference and the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince.

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