SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — One among Haiti’s strongest gangs mentioned Friday that it reached out to a authorities company accountable for dismantling armed gangs in a push for “peace, stability and nationwide reconciliation.”
The 400 Mawozo gang despatched a three-page assertion to The Related Press stressing that “dialogue will not be a capitulation,” however moderately an “act of patriotic accountability to protect human lives.”
The United Nations and human rights teams have accused 400 Mawozo of raping, killing and kidnapping individuals, which it has denied. On Nov. 1, gang chief Wilson Joseph advised the AP that he wrote to the U.N. secretary-general and requested that the group ship a delegation to Haiti for dialogue and mediation amid fears that the presence of Salvadoran troops might additional escalate violence.
The gang, which refers to itself as a insurgent group, mentioned that it plans to take part in a peaceable demonstration later this month “with a purpose to lay the groundwork for a nationwide dialogue and peace negotiation course of.”
“Haiti’s future can’t be constructed solely on confrontations and navy operations,” it mentioned.
Haiti’s Nationwide Fee for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration advised the AP that a person contacted them on behalf of the armed group, however that the fee works alongside the prime minister’s workplace. “For any dialogue with armed teams, we should observe the roadmap proposed by the federal government,” the fee mentioned.
The letter was shared as Haitian police and international forces proceed to battle gangs, with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé asserting on X late Friday {that a} gang chief was killed, with out figuring out him. Haiti’s Nationwide Police mentioned the chief of the Boston gang often called Mathias was a type of killed in a joint operation with different legislation enforcement forces. Mathias was a widely known gang chief that operated out of Cité Soleil, a gang-controlled slum in Port-au-Prince.
“The gangs received’t be getting any sleep!” the prime minister wrote on X.
Police mentioned in an announcement that a number of gang members have been injured and killed within the operation because it urged Haitians to show over their “unlawful weapons” in order that “they will change their lives.”
The AP reached out to a spokesperson for 400 Mawozo and requested if the gang is prepared to put down its weapons.
The particular person, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they don’t need to be publicly recognized to speak about these points, responded that the gang is prepared to interact in peace negotiations and that disarmament is a course of.
When requested what 400 Mawozo seeks in change, the particular person mentioned peace and the top of what they known as “worldwide interference.”
The gang’s announcement comes simply weeks after El Salvador deployed greater than 2,000 troops to Haiti following the disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians who got here underneath assault on Oct. 18 whereas deep in gang territory.
The United Nations has mentioned that a lot of the Salvadoran personnel in Haiti are working exterior the framework of the U.N.-backed gang suppression force that’s working with Haiti’s police and navy in addition to Vectus Global, the non-public safety agency based by former U.S. Navy SEAL and Blackwater founder Erik Prince.
The gang mentioned it believes it will be “helpful” if all “related navy forces” droop operations focusing on sure areas pending the “efficient opening of a dialogue on peace and stability.”
“This era ought to present a possibility for de-escalation, the safety of civilian populations, and the seek for an enduring political resolution,” it wrote.
In its letter, 400 Mawozo mentioned it was fearful about social media posts “focusing on” the house of Joseph, finest often called Lanmò Sanjou, particularly feedback attributed to El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
On Friday, Bukele responded to a social media submit during which he was tagged and allegedly exhibiting Joseph’s dwelling. “The place is that home? Give us the precise deal with, and we’ll destroy it,” Bukele wrote on X.
In its letter, the gang described Joseph’s dwelling as “an emblem of peace throughout the framework of its de-escalation course of” and known as on “all events to respect worldwide obligations referring to the safety of civilians and civilian property.”
The gang referenced sure articles throughout the Geneva Conventions in addition to the Constitution of the United Nations.
El Salvador’s authorities declined to remark when reached by the AP on Friday night time.
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