ARTICLE - UN - AIRPORT INCIDENT INVESTIGATION

UN: LACK OF COOPERATION IN MINUSTAH, TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE AIRPORT INVESTIGATION
(Defend Haiti) - By AHP

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Spokeswoman for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, acknowledged Friday that there has been little progress in the investigation into the incident of early June at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Wildenberg indicated that the investigation is being trampled on as persons being questioned have refused to cooperate with investigators. She expressed the hope that these citizens will contribute to the outcome of the investigation.

The UN Spokeswoman stated that the United Nations has a zero tolerance policy for civilian staff or military found guilty through an investigation for acts of misconduct.

The spokeswoman also added that the United Nations has no judicial power. "When a member of the staff of the United Nations is guilty of misconduct, they are subject to disciplinary sanctions and may be returned to their country, but they belong to the judicial authorities of the state of origin to take measures to bring them to justice".

On June 5, Brazilian peacekeepers returned on board an aircraft of Insel Air and appealed to other armed colleagues who had come on an armored tank and loudly burst into the arrival room of the airport to put pressure on Customs officers and take possession without verification of the baggage and transported goods.

The soldiers, once outside, fired bursts of weapons and tear gas to neutralize customs personnel and many others employees who were demonstrating their hostility to the behavior of the military.

For the last few weeks, the Director General of Customs (AGD) has broadcast in the local press, a spot, which states the obligation of any person to submit to controls of the Customs officers.

They stressed in this message, that they have the right to carry a firearm in the performance of their function and also stated that the police must lend strong hands to Customs officers when they are in difficulty.