Canadian peacekeeper killed in Haiti

Rueters ^ | 32 minutes ago

[BenLurkin]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and killed a Canadian police officer with the U.N. peacekeeping force in Haiti on Tuesday, a U.N. official said.

The officer was shot on National Route 1 not far from Cite Soleil, a large slum in the capital Port-au-Prince, said Marc Jaquet, a spokesman for the police contingent of the U.N. peacekeeping force.

Canada identified the victim as Mark Bourque, and said he was one of 25 police officers who went to Haiti in October as part of the Canadian Special Elections Contingent.

The peacekeepers, now numbering nearly 9,000 soldiers and police, were sent to the troubled Caribbean nation to restore security after the bloody rebellion that pushed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from office in February 2004.

Including the Canadian police officer, eight U.N. peacekeepers have died since the deployment of the U.N. mission, four of them in accidents, according to U.N. officials in Haiti. Thirty others have been wounded.

Three Chilean soldiers were ambushed and shot in the northern town of Plaisance on Friday.

(Additional reporting by Allan Dowd in Vancouver, British Columbia)

[BenLurkin]

"A Canadian U.N. policeman patrols a street in the volatile neighbourhood of Bel-Air in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti in this November 26, 2004 file photo. Gunmen shot and killed a Canadian police officer with the U.N. peacekeeping force in Haiti on December 20, 2005, a U.N. official said. The officer was shot on National Route 1 not far from Cite Soleil, a large slum in the capital Port-au-Prince, said Marc Jaquet, a spokesman for the police contingent of the U.N. peacekeeping force." REUTERS/Logan Abassi/Files

[MeanWestTexan]

No blood for zombies.

[JNL]

I only hope you're joking (as I'm sure you are), prayers for the family.

[proud_yank]

I feel sorry for his family. But did the UN troops fire back?

[MeanWestTexan]

Well, I couldn't think of any other products Haiti makes.

But I admit I was pleased with the double meaning.

[JNL]

A bit more info:


http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/12/20/1361770-cp.html

Highlight:

The slum is beset by daily gunbattles between peacekeepers and armed gangs.

Not that you'd ever hear about this though until someone dies. Sad

[JNL]

You are one sick puppy. Of course Hati produces another product (refugees)

[BenLurkin]

How long have they been there? Seems like over a decade.

This, seriously, is a quagmire.

[JNL]

Yep, not that you would know or hear. Next step Hati government will denounce killing, Canadians will demand investigation and fair trial of the terrorists and then.....well then another "peacekeeper" will be killed.

[albee]

Gee.....this sounds like a job for KOFIMAN!

Is there a nearby phone booth where he can change into his SuperUN uniform?

[Mad_as_heck]

Very sad. Prayers for him and his family.

We make a lot of jokes at Canada's expense around here (myself included) but let me use this opportunity to tell any Canadian FReeper present that the sacrifices of your soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere are very much appreciated. Thank you.

[JNL]

sorry Haiti (must check spelling) though my previous spelling seems more appropiate.

[BenLurkin]

Join!

[JNL]

As an American FReeper living in Canada I'm sure they appreciate it. Overall they are a good bunch.

Beer is good too.

[Mad_as_heck]

How long have they been there? Seems like over a decade. This, seriously, is a quagmire.

It is. I have the sinking feeling that they were better off under the military junta that was in power before Slick Willie decided to "fix" things down there.

[mitchbert]

Thank you.

[proud_yank]

Thanks for the info!

Looks like were both in the same boat (US FReepers living in Canada!)

[proud_yank]

Is there a nearby phone booth where he can change into his SuperUN uniform?

Forget Kofi Bean. This is a job for UN MAN!!:



If you haven't seen the "UN Man Video", you should check it out. Its not a parody, it is just so bad you think that it would be.

[JNL]

Yeah the Dems will love the whole idea I can see it now. Our allies our under attack in Haiti, the Haitian government will not do a thing to help. We will step in and help our allies, after all that's what we do....

Then I woke up.