27161: Hermantin(News)U.N. peacekeeper found dead (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin

Posted on Sun, Jan. 08, 2006


HAITI
U.N. peacekeeper found dead
Brazilian Army Lt. Gen. Urano Teixeira Da Matta Bacellar was found dead in his 
room at a luxury hotel early Saturday. Officials are investigating a possible 
suicide.
BY REED LINDSAY
jmozingo@MiamiHerald.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE - AND JOE MOZINGO

The Commander of U.N. peacekeeping forces here was found shot to death in his 
apartment at a luxury hillside hotel early Saturday morning in what Haitian 
police say was likely a suicide.

Brazilian Army Lt. Gen. Urano Teixeira Da Matta Bacellar, 58, was discovered 
shortly after 6:30 a.m. with a gun in his hand and a single gunshot wound 
through the mouth, said a law enforcement official, who asked to withhold his 
name because he was not authorized to speak about the incident.

An owner or manager at the Hotel Montana reportedly heard the shot and quickly 
notified other U.N. military leaders staying at the hotel, who then discovered 
the body, the official said.

`FIREARMS ACCIDENT'

U.N. officials released few details about the incident and would not confirm 
that the death was a suicide. The Brazilian Army called it a ''firearms 
accident'' according to a Brazilian news agency.

It is too early to tell whether Bacellar's death will have a significant impact 
on the U.N. mission here or the upcoming elections, but a U.N. spokesman said 
the incident would not weaken the international effort to have Haiti join ``the 
democratic community of nations.''

The radio waves were filled with news of Bacellar's death Saturday, but given 
many stations' penchant for broadcasting wild rumors and Haiti's murderous 
political history, there was surprisingly little speculation of foul play.

The crime scene at the Hotel Montana in the suburb of Pétionville was guarded 
by U.N. military Saturday morning. A journalist who managed to get past the 
cordon said Bacellar's slumped body was dressed in boxers and a white 
undershirt, with one side of his face covered in blood.

``There is nothing suspicious for now,`` said Haitian Police Chief Mario 
Andresol, who is helping lead a joint investigation with U.N. police officers. 
``He had his weapon in his hand.''

Bacellar had served in Brazil's armed forces for 39 years, according to the 
U.N. peacekeeping mission. He replaced Brazilian Lt. Gen. Augusto Heleno 
Ribeiro in September as commander of the forces that arrived in June of 2004 to 
provide stability following the rebellion that ousted President Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide.

Bacellar is survived by his wife and two children.

''I was very surprised. Shocked,'' said Brazilian Ambassador to Haiti Paulo 
Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto, who was a close friend of Bacellar. ``He was a man 
full of happiness, with great religious faith, and a man who loved his family 
because he spoke a lot of his children and his wife.

''The general had a level of tension that was normal for somebody with his 
degree of responsibility, which is why I was so surprised,'' he added.

VIOLENCE NOT WANING

Bacellar's death comes at a time the 8,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission, 
known here by its French acronym MINUSTAH, is under extreme pressure to tamp 
down on spiraling violence before the upcoming national elections.

The country's largest business association has called for a general strike this 
week to protest MINUSTAH's inability to reign in a wave of kidnappings and gang 
warfare in the capital. Many leading political candidates have expressed 
support of the strike.

On Thursday, U.N. peacekeepers had announced a series of ''military actions'' 
to control the situation.

Andresol has said much of the violence is political, aimed at derailing the 
elections, which were to be held today, but have been postponed for the fourth 
time. The Provisional Electoral Council is yet to announce a new date.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council and the Organization of American States 
called on Haiti's transitional government to hold the first round of balloting 
by Feb. 7.

Following Bacellar's death on Saturday, the United Nations named the Deputy 
Force Commander, Chilean Gen. Eduardo Aldunate Herman, to lead the 7,269 U.N. 
soldiers in Haiti.

The troops come from 20 nations, with the largest contingents provided by 
Jordan and Brazil.

TAKEN ABACK

MINUSTAH officials were reeling at news of Bacellar's demise.

''His unexpected death leaves us all bereft,'' said MINUSTAH spokesman Damien 
Onsés Cardona in a statement. ``His untimely death and sacrifice in the cause 
of peace will not weaken the resolve of MINUSTAH and the international 
community to ensure the will of the Haitian people prevails and Haiti joins the 
democratic community of nations.''

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Brazilian troops will remain 
in Haiti despite the death.

Secretary General Kofi Annan was ''shocked and saddened'' by the news, 
according to a U.N. statement.

Six peacekeepers were killed in Haiti in 2005. Only Congo was more dangerous 
last year for U.N. troops, with 13 dead.






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