Ex-Haitian Lawmaker Implicated In Ambush

Speaking from a wheelchair in his hospital room Wednesday, a wounded lawmaker implicated a right-wing former legislator in the killing of his colleague, Rep. Jean-Hubert Feuille.

Rep. Gabriel Fortune accused former Rep. Benoit Laguerre of masterminding the Nov. 7 ambush, which also injured Fortune. Feuille had won Laguerre’s seat for south-coast Port Salut in a June 25 election, and Laguerre had publicly threatened him with death.

Fortune said an arrest warrant had been issued for Laguerre, but neither police nor the Justice Ministry could confirm that.

Feuille’s brother, Yvon, told Radio Metropole on Wednesday that a taxi driver had been arrested for allegedly driving the gunmen to the scene. The driver had implicated Laguerre in the killing, he said.

Fortune also said Laguerre’s allies had infiltrated the entourage of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, helping him to plan the attack.

“The far right has infiltrated the (presidential) palace with its henchmen,” said Fortune, 35, breathing with difficulty since a bullet grazed his lungs in the attack.

He and Feuille were shot after a blue taxi and a red rental car blocked the four-wheel-drive vehicle they were riding in. Gunmen shot out their tires and killed Feuille with two bullets to the head.

The two legislators had just cashed nearly $6,000 at the bank, which was hidden under the car’s front seat. The money disappeared in the attack.