REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS OF DECEMBER 17, 2001, IN HAITI

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1

........... Historical background................................................................................................. 1

Composition of the Commission of Inquiry.................................................................... 3

Methodology of the Report.......................................................................................... 4

II. THE FACTS............................................................................................................ 4

A. The armed attack on the National Palace in Port-au-Prince during the early hours of Monday, December 17, 2006............................................................................................... 5

1. Background.............................................................................................. 5

2. The events of December 17, 2001............................................................. 6

a. The facts............................................................................................. 6

i. .. Penetration of the National Palace................................................. 6

ii. Occupation of the National Palace................................................. 6

iii... Escape and pursuit........................................................................ 7

b. Objectives and responsibility for the attack on the National Palace.......... 9

i. The objectives of the attack on the National Palace........................ 9

ii. Responsibility for the attack........................................................... 9

B. Ransacking and burning of the headquarters of the political parties of the Opposition, the private residences of the leaders of the Convergence Démocratique, and of cultural and academic centers, national or foreign, in Port-au-Prince and in other cities and localities... 10

1. Background............................................................................................ 10

2. Headquarters of the political parties of the Opposition............................... 11

a. In Port-au-Prince.............................................................................. 11

b. In other cities and towns.................................................................... 13

i. Area of Gonaïves...................................................................... 13

ii. Area of Petit Goâve.................................................................. 14

iii. Area of Cap-Haïtien.................................................................. 14

iv. Area of Les Cayes.................................................................... 15

3. Private residences of the leaders of Convergence Démocratique............. 15

a. In Port-au-Prince.............................................................................. 15

b. In other cities and towns.................................................................... 16

i. Area of Gonaïves...................................................................... 16

ii. Area of Petit Goâve.................................................................. 16

iii. Area of Cap-Haïtien.................................................................. 17

iv. Area of Les Cayes.................................................................... 18

v. Area of Hinche......................................................................... 18

4. Cultural and academic centers................................................................. 18

C. Possible links between the incidents mentioned in A and B above, and violent incidents of July 28, 2001, in Port-au-Prince and in other places in Haiti.......................................... 19

1. The violent incidents of July 28, 2001........................................................ 19

a. Introduction...................................................................................... 19

b. In Port-au-Prince.............................................................................. 21

c. In other cities and towns.................................................................... 22

i. Mireblais.................................................................................... 22

ii. Belladère.................................................................................... 23

iii. Hinche....................................................................................... 23

d. Consequences of the attacks............................................................. 23

i. Port-au-Prince............................................................................ 23

ii. Mirebalais.................................................................................. 24

iii. Belladère.................................................................................... 24

iv. Hinche....................................................................................... 24

e. Ineffectiveness of the police response................................................ 25

2. Possible links between the incidents of July 28, 2001, and December 17, 2001 25

D. The attacks, intimidation and threats against members of the press and owners of the media on December 17, 2001, and the following days......................................................................... 27

1. Background............................................................................................ 27

2. Attacks, intimidation and threats against members of the press................... 27

3. Attacks, intimidation and threats against owners of the media.................... 29

III. CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................................... 29

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................................... 32

APPENDICES TO THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY INTO

THE EVENTS OF DECEMBER 17, 2001....................................................................... 37

APPENDICE I................................................................................................................................... 39