Leaked Dead Pics Jovenel Moïse: Several suspects arrested in Taiwan's embassy

Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Haitian authorities blame more than two dozen foreigners for the crime. According to Taiwan, eleven suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder at the Taiwanese embassy compound in Port-au-Prince. "A group of armed men" entered Taiwan's diplomatic mission Thursday morning, a foreign ministry spokeswoman in Taipei told the AFP news agency Friday.

Without any hesitation, Taiwan's embassy gave the Haitian police the green light for the operation, a statement from the Taiwanese embassy said. The suspects were brought back by police for questioning, it said. Taiwan is a "long-time friend and credible partner of Haiti," it said.

Unlike most other countries, Haiti has had full official relations with Taiwan for 65 years. The crisis-stricken Caribbean nation is thus one of Taiwan's 15 diplomatic allies. China regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and is trying to isolate the island diplomatically.

Members of the Colombian army

A hit squad of "26 Colombians and two U.S. citizens of Haitian origin" were involved in the attack, National Police chief Léon Charles had said Thursday. So far, 17 suspects have been arrested, he said. Fifteen of the Colombian nationals as well as the two U.S. citizens were arrested, according to the report, and three Colombians were killed. Eight attackers were still on the run, it said. The police had initially spoken on Wednesday of four shot "mercenaries".

Meanwhile, the background to the murder is completely unclear. The United States and Colombia offered their help in the investigation. Bogotá said that apparently at least six of the Colombian participants were "former members of the national armed forces." He had instructed the police and army to cooperate with Haitian authorities, Colombia's Defense Minister Diego Molano said. Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste cited the suspects, some of whom are believed to have been in the country for several months.

A U.S. State Department spokesman confirmed that Haiti had requested assistance in the investigation. "The U.S. will respond," he said. However, the department did not comment on arrests of U.S. citizens.

Passed off as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

Those arrested were seen sitting on the ground with handcuffs on by Haitian police. Some of them were visibly injured. On a table were items that had been seized: several automatic weapons, machetes, sledgehammers, Colombian passports, smartphones and quite a few dollar bills. At least two of those arrested had apparently been captured by angry crowds, as seen in videos posted on social media. Civilians had also set fire to vehicles suspected of being used in the attack, according to Charles.

The 53-year-old head of state, Moïse was shot dead at his residence on Wednesday night. His wife Martine was seriously injured and taken to the U.S. city of Miami, a good 1,000 kilometers away, for treatment. The newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported Moïse's body had twelve bullet holes, some from large-caliber weapons. Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, had described the assassins as well-trained and heavily armed foreign mercenaries before the arrests. They had posed as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The U.N. special representative for Haiti, Helen La Lime, said Thursday in an online news conference that Haiti had asked the U.N. Security Council for additional security assistance. It was initially unclear what exactly the request would be. He also said Haiti's U.N. ambassador had requested international assistance in investigating the background to the crime. La Lime stressed that the United Nations was ready to help. The U.S. is also ready, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The prerequisite, she said, was that there be a formal request.

Dispute over political power

The assassination leaves a power vacuum. Since a parliamentary election scheduled for October 2019 was cancelled, partly because of violent protests against Moïse, there has been no parliament capable of acting there since January 2020. Moïse has ruled by decree since then.

On Monday, Moïse appointed neurosurgeon Ariel Henry as interim prime minister. The title had been held since April by Joseph, who, however, was never constitutionally confirmed in the office of head of government due to the lack of a parliament. Because Henry has not yet been sworn in, Joseph declared himself acting interim prime minister. He signed a decree declaring a 15-day state of siege. Among other things, this allows the military's powers to be expanded and citizens' rights to be curtailed. In an interview by Le Nouvelliste, Henry said that from his perspective, Joseph is no longer prime minister.

Moïse, who had ruled since 2017, was extremely unpopular. He was accused of corruption, links to brutal gangs and autocratic tendencies. Protests repeatedly paralyzed Haiti over the past three years. Most recently, bloody fighting between gangs over control of parts of the capital drove thousands of people to flee. Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for Sept. 26, along with a constitutional referendum. Joseph has declared his intention to stick to the date.

#haitians just arrested two others assassins. #haiti #JovenelMoise pic.twitter.com/zd8ey0rnZk — This is Absurd (@issapopstar) July 8, 2021