Wednesday, the Chilean Ambassador in Haiti, Patricio Utreras Díaz accompanied by his wife Brenda Iriarte Rojas, the representative of the NGO "America Solidaria" and representatives of the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) went to the Boutin area, located between Thomazeau and Croix-des-Bouquets, to assess the progress of the work undertaken as part of the implementation of the drinking water project for the benefit of this community, funded by the Chile, according to Olga Regueira, General Director of America Solidaria in Haiti.

A visit that was brutally interrupted around 11:30 am when 5 individuals armed with AK-47 attacked and opened fire on the procession of the Embassy of Chile (about 18 people) leaving many bullet impact on the vehicles.

The security agents of the Chilean Embassy responded and managed to put the aggressors to flight.

As a result of this attack, a Haitian volunteer from the NGO "América Solidaria", a Haitian citizen, Frantz Eliancin, died while the ambassador's driver was shot in the wrist. Olson Regis, co-director of cooperation, was also slightly injured.

In Chile, Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick, reacting to the attack of the diplomatic convoy and members of the NGO "América Solidaria" said "We do not know the motivation of this attack but there would be indications that it could be of a criminal nature" emphasizing "It is a very exceptional fact that has occurred and we all know that in Haiti there is a significant level of violence and that we must therefore take all precautions."

Sebastián Zulueta, executive director of America Solidaria Internacional, said following the attack in Haiti "We do not think it was a premeditated or planned event, we think it was perhaps the attraction of the high-value vehicles that prompted these individuals to come and steal certain goods through this attack [...] We do not think it was an act against the State of Chile or against a Chilean authority."

Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack and confirmed that it will continue with the support it has always given to Haiti.

In Haiti, Jean Claudy Pierre the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation in a note "expresses his desolation at the deplorable act he condemns with the utmost vigor. Also, he urges the Embassy of Chile in particular, the diplomatic community and the Technical and Financial Partners in general, to receive his feelings of regret and no doubt that all efforts will be made by the police to find the culprits who will have to answer for their acts."

For his part, Rony Colin, the Mayor of Croix-des-Bouquets learned with amazement and anger the attack of armed individuals attacked, in the Boutin area, between Thomazeau and Croix-des-Bouquets and "condemns this barbaric act with the utmost firmness, and expresses its sympathies to the victims and to the whole delegation for the traumas caused by this serious incident," indicating that the police and judicial authorities of the commune were instructed to identify, apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators of this act, giving the guarantee to the Ambassador of Chile and members of the procession that this act will not remain unpunished.

SL/ HaitiLibre