Jake Johnston
@jakobjohnston.bsky.social
260 followers 32 following 71 posts
Researching, writing. Haiti and US foreign policy. Author of AID STATE. Work at CEPR. https://t.co/N2PgN9A05W
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Thrilled to announce that AID STATE will be translated into Kreyòl — but we need some help to make it happen. The translated text and audio versions will be completely free. Please consider chipping in: cepr.net/we-need-your...
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jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The files "offer support to the defense theory that CTU's actions in Haiti were effectuated in partnership with United States intelligence and Department of Justice agents ... to plan and carry out operations to effectuate regime change in foreign countries."
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
More allegations from the lawyers concerning US intelligence agencies' support for regime change in Bolivia, conducted through CTU — the Florida firm run by Ortiz and his partner Antonio Intriago.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The lawyers claim to have found an audio file buried in discovery "that bridges the joint work between Ortiz and the American agencies in Bolivia in 2020 with the 2021 work in Haiti."

The contents of that audio file are redacted.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The lawyers also allege the messages show US intel officials coordinating with Ortiz on a "regime change" operation in Bolivia in 2020.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
NEW: In court filing, lawyers for one of the defendants in the Haiti assassination case cite text messages between Arcangel Ortiz and his FBI handler from 2020 up until one week before the assassination.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
What could possibly go wrong?

"The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force."
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
But over the course of the last three months, about 10 gang members have been killed every day in Haiti.

And security isn't improving, it's getting steadily worse.

The data in the UN report make clear that a new strategy is needed.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The armed groups in Haiti are responsible for heinous atrocities, including widespread sexual violence, as the UN report also makes clear.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The UN also reported at least 50 cases of security forces' summarily executing unarmed individuals suspected of being in or collaborating with gangs.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Police operations in Cite Soleil "were particularly concerning due to the large number of casualties among the population," the UN reports.

76 civilians killed and 43 injured.

"The victims were hit by stray bullets while they were in their residence or while walking."
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
But the Haitian police were responsible for more than half of those deaths. They reported killing about 700 people "associated with gangs" and well over a 100 civilians.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
n the first three months of the year, more than 1,600 Haitians were killed. That would likely make Haiti the country with the highest homicide rate in the world.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Gran Grif also designated.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
It's official, the US has designated Viv Ansanm in Haiti as a "Transnational Terrorist Group."
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
This could end virtually all trade with Haiti, if actually enforced. Very little comes or goes out of Port-au-Prince without some payments being made. Humanitarian access programs would also likely cease. Can't enter a community to disperse aid without negotiations.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
A Haitian government official, asked by Washington Post about civilian casualties as a result of weaponized drone operations, had this to say:

“To me, it’s just a detail. As long as you’re in a zone controlled by gangs and there are attacks, collateral damage is going to happen.”
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
The report details three seizures of cocaine hidden in bananas from Noboa Trading, one just last year. A defendant, now free, was represented by an advisor to Noboa, who currently serves as minister of health.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Explosive new report from @revistaraya.bsky.social, based on internal Ecuadorian police documents, showing the connections between the president's banana company and drug trafficking.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Combined, he's bringing in more than $200k a month.

But why does the DR intel agency even need a lobbyist?
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Carlos Trujillo, "a top advisor" to Trump on Latin America who also served during the first admin, has signed four new lobbying contracts in the last month: Haiti, Guyana, Georgia, and, perhaps even stranger, the intelligence agency of the Dominican Republic.
jakobjohnston.bsky.social
Haiti sanctions imposed by the US, Canada, even the UN ... it's virtue signaling. They are largely meaningless and have done as much to encourage corruption and violence than deter it.