Pentagon: Some Colombians Arrested in Moise Assassination Probe Received US Military Training | Voice of America

WASHINGTON – Some of the Colombian nationals arrested by the Haitian National Police in connection with the assassination of President Jovenel Moise were participating in “US military training and education programs,” a Pentagon spokesman confirmed in an email to VOA.

The information came to light during a review of the training databases, said Lt. Col. Ken Hoffman, without indicating when or where the training took place.

“Our review is ongoing so we don’t have any additional details at this time,” said Hoffman. The development was first reported by the Washington Post.

The US Department of Defense trains thousands of military personnel from South America, Central America and the Caribbean every year, according to the Pentagon.

Hoffman said the training will focus on “respect for human rights, the rule of law and the military under a democratically elected civilian leadership.”

Haitian Police Chief Leon Charles said police had arrested 18 Colombians in connection with the attack.

Moise was shot dead in an attack on his private home in an affluent suburb of Port-au-Prince in the morning hours of July 7th. His wife Martine, who was injured in the attack, is recovering from surgery in a Miami, Florida hospital. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph told reporters he had spoken to Ms. Moise several times and she was fine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) will meet with Colombian Vice President and Secretary of State Marta Lucia Ramirez at the US State Department in Washington on May 28, 2021.

Colombian government on “mercenaries”

In New York, Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez condemned the involvement of Colombian nationals in the Moise assassination after a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

“Let me say that the Colombian government, but also the judicial system, is working with the judiciary and intelligence services of other countries to help the Haitian state recognize all responsibility for this crime – this great crime,” Ramirez told Reporters, adding that your country also works with the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol.

“And of course we’re helping Interpol to have all the information, the track record of the time they lived in Colombia, all the information about their communications, everything to solve this horrific crime,” said Ramirez. “Anyone involved in it, anyone who was a physical or intellectual actor in this crime must be punished and must be punished with an extreme and very high capacity of the international judiciary and the Colombian judiciary and others.”

New arrests

In Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s National Police announced the arrest of two other suspects in connection with the murder of President Moise on Thursday.

Police identified them as Haitians Reynaldo Corvington and Gilbert Dragon. Police said they found a weapons cache in the homes of the two suspects, including AR-15 rifles, automatic weapons, pistols and hunting rifles. A police statement said three hand grenades were found in Corvington’s apartment.

In addition, the national police issued a new arrest warrant for Désir Gordon Phenil. A statement posted on PNH’s official Facebook page said that Phenil was responsible for renting cars, coordinating meetings with the “mercenaries” and purchasing equipment.

Dimitri Herard, security chief at the National Palace, was arrested on Wednesday.

VOA Creole reporters say Herard was due to appear in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday before an inquest, but did not.

President Joe Biden will meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland, law enforcement officers, and community leaders at the White House in Washington on July 12, 2021 to discuss strategies to reduce gun violence.

US President Joe Biden has condemned the attack. The President sent a special delegation to Haiti to support the investigation. The delegation includes officials from the Department of State, Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the National Security Council.

Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and UN correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report