Proposed UN resolution would sanction top Haitian gang chief

U.N. Security Council is negotiating a resolution that would impose an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on influential Haitian gang leer Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbeque.”

It also would target or Haitian individuals and groups who eng in actions that threaten peace, security or stability of Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, according to text obtained Thursday by Associated Press.

U.S.-drafted resolution singles out by name Cherizier, a former police officer who les an alliance of Haitian gangs kwn as “G9 Family and Allies.” But it would establish a Security Council committee to designate or Haitians and groups to be put on a blacklist and subjected to sanctions as well.

draft resolution expresses “grave concern about extremely high levels of gang violence and or criminal activities, including kidnappings, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and homicides, and sexual and -based violence including rape and sexual slavery, as well as ongoing impunity for perpetrators, corruption and recruitment of children by gangs and implications of Haiti’s situation for region.”

Security Council moved up a meeting on Haiti to Monday because of increasingly dire situation in country.

Daily life in Haiti began to spin out of control last month just hours after Prime Minister Ariel Henry said fuel subsidies would be eliminated, causing prices to double. Gangs blocked entrance to Varreux fuel terminal, leing to a severe short of fuel at a time that clean water is also scarce and country is trying to deal with a dely cholera outbreak.

draft resolution says “Cherizier and his G9 gang confederation are actively blocking free movement of fuel from Varreux fuel terminal — largest in Haiti.”

“His actions have directly contributed to ecomic paralysis and humanitarian crisis in Haiti,” it says.

In a video posted on Facebook last week, Cherizier called on government to grant him and G9 members amnesty and to void all arrest warrants against m. He said in Creole that Haiti’s ecomic and social situation is worsening by day, so “re is better time than today to dismantle system.”

He outlined a transitional plan for restoring order in Haiti. It would include creation of a Council of Ss with one representative from each of Haiti’s 10 departments to govern country with an interim president until a presidential election could be held in February 2024. It also calls for restructuring Haiti’s National Police and strengning army.

“ country is (facing) one crisis after ar,” Cherizier said. “During all se crises, first victim is population, people in ghettos, peasants.”

Haiti has been in grips of an inflationary vise that is squeezing its people and exacerbating protests that have brought society to breaking point. Violence is raging, making parents afraid to send ir kids to school. Hospitals, banks and grocery stores are struggling to stay open.

president of neighboring Dominican Republic, which shares Caribbean island of Hispaniola, recently described situation as a “low-intensity civil war.” His government is cracking down on Haitians migrating to Dominican Republic.

Political instability has simmered ever since last year’s still-unsolved assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who h faced opposition protests calling for his resignation over corruption charges and claims that his five-year term h ended. Moïse dissolved Parliament in January 2020 after legislators failed to hold elections in 2019 amid political gridlock.

Last week, Haiti's prime minister and 18 high-ranking officials requested “ immediate deployment of a specialized armed force , in sufficient quantity” by international partners to stop “criminal actions” of armed gangs across country.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Security Council on Sunday calling for deployment of a rapid action force by one or several U.N. member states to help Haiti’s National Police.

That force would “remove threat posed by armed gangs and provide immediate protection to critical infrastructure and services,” as well as secure “free movement of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from main ports and airports to communities and health care facilities,” he said.

draft resolution takes te of Guterres’ letter, welcomes appeal from Haiti, and encours “ immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force” to support Haitian National Police, as secretary-general recommends.

U.S. officials said Wednesday Biden ministration will provide security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti and pull visas to current and former government officials involved with gangs.