Haiti: UN Opens the Door to Reborn Army :-(

[G_j]

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/haiti/2004/0906reborn.htm

Haiti: UN Opens the Door to Reborn Army
Haiti Support Group
September 6, 2004

The Haiti Support Group once again sounds the alarm about the grave threat to human rights and democracy in Haiti posed by the increasingly bold campaign currently waged by armed groups demanding the return of the Haitian Army.

According to local media reports, groups composed of former members of the Haitian Armed Forces - an entity disbanded in 1995 - have assembled and set up bases in Petit-Goave, Grand-Goave, Jacmel, Belladere, and Gonaives. In many cases, they have chased away the police, occupied the police headquarters and painted the buildings mustard yellow - the traditional colour of Haitian Army barracks and outposts. It should be noted that in some parts of the country - notably in Cap-Haitien and Hinche - the former soldiers have been ever present since February when they took over towns as part of their armed insurrection against the government.

These irregular - and illegal - armed groups are now pressing the interim government to recognise the existence of re-born Haitian Army, and to grant ten years of back-pay to all members dismissed in 1995. Their spokespeople ridicule suggestions that they be disarmed, and are issuing a series of deadlines for their demands to be met.

All the while, the US-led multinational force and now the Brazil-led United Nations force has been treating them with 'kid gloves', preferring to negotiate and establish the grounds for co-existence, rather than making it clear that they cannot continue as a parallel armed law and order force.

..more..

[G_j]

1. kick

[G_j]

2. kick for poor Haiti, always forgotten n/t