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SITUATION:

A platoon is responsible for securing a polling site during the election. NGOs responsible for election oversight are present. A large media contingent is present. Large numbers of Haitians are present throughout the day.

EVENT(S):

1. You notice overt intimidation of voters occurring prior to their entering the voting site.

2. You observe harassment of voters as they leave the site.

3. A candidate arrives with his own security people. His car is vandalized by the crowd while he is attempting to enter the site.

4. A fight breaks out in the immediate area of the ballot box.

5. A voter leaves the site and starts rumors of ballot stuffing. The crowd becomes hostile and disruptive. Media representatives repeatedly ask soldiers at the gate for a statement concerning the allegation.

6. Shots are fired from the crowd.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

EVENT(S):

1. Bring the speaker and linguist team forward and order the crowd to disperse. Make the citizens aware of their rights and warn those who are the source of the intimidation. If it continues, you will move out to the crowd and detain individuals who are instigating the intimidation. Be prepared to use the graduated response techniques for a crowd. If civilians are determined to be a threat, they may be detained.

2. Same as 1.

3. Same as 1.

4. Secure the site, stop the fight, calm the citizens with the linguist and extract the individuals as quickly as possible. Necessary and proportional force is authorized to control disturbances and disperse crowds threatening essential civic order.

5. Division should employ a PAD and a linguist to the site. Also ask the international monitors to speak to the media and the crowd to dispel any rumors.

6. Take cover, treat casualties, and report to higher HQ. If the shooter is identified, employ deadly force if necessary. When deadly force is employed, targets will be engaged with observed, deliberate aimed fire.

ROE Limitations and Restrictions:

ROE 5: Civilians may be stopped if they appear to be a threat to U. S. Forces, protected persons, key facilities, or property designated mission-essential. If determined to be a threat, they may be further detained; if not, they will be released.

ROE 6: Necessary and proportional force is authorized to control disturbances and disperse crowds threatening essential civic order.

ROE 7: Persons observed committing serious criminal acts will be detained using minimal force necessary up to and including deadly force. "Serious criminal acts include homicide, aggravated assault, rape, arson and robbery."