Haitian rebels still armed and active

[struggle4progress]

Sunday, July 25, 2004
By AMY BRACKEN
Associated Press Writer

MIREBALAIS, Haiti -- Nightly, camouflage-clad rebels patrol this central Haitian town, still armed and active five months after the rebellion that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Under international pressure, the new government has ordered factions to give up their guns in less than two months, but it has shown little willingness to confront ex-soldiers controlling parts of the countryside despite the presence of U.N. peacekeepers.
<snip>

Rebels have largely ignored a letter this month from the interim government saying armed groups have until Sept. 15 to turn in illegal weapons, after which police will make arrests.

The police force -- trying to rebuild after the revolt that led to Aristide's Feb. 29 ouster -- has been reluctant to confront rebels, as have leaders. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue praised rebels as "freedom fighters" after taking office in March.
<snip>

http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=F96E0DB5-62A4-4DBB-A0F5-968CE22A6090

[seemslikeadream]

1. UN envoy tours Haiti's hard-hit areas

AP
Monday, July 26, 2004

Juan Gabriel Valdes, a former Chilean foreign minister, held a private meeting in west-coast Gonaives with Canadian and Chilean military officials. He also met with Brazilian Lt Gen Augusto Heleno, the commander of the UN force in Haiti, and the ambassadors from Canada and Chile.

"A very important part of my job (is) to keep alive the interest and the support of the international community for Haiti," Valdes said.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Valdes on July 12 to be his special representative in Haiti and to head the UN mission in the country. Valdes formally takes over in late August.

The mission includes a peacekeeping force expected to expand to 6,700 troops and more than 1,600 international police.

It started arriving June 1 to replace a 3,600-strong US-led multinational force sent after the three-week rebellion culminated in Aristide's ouster on February 29.

The UN force formally took over June 25, and currently includes 2,300 troops from Brazil, Chile, Canada, Uruguay and Argentina. There are also 205 police officers from China, Chad, Portugal, France, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Jordan, Canada, Turkey and Cameroon.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040725T210000-0500_63421_OBS_UN_ENVOY_TOURS_HAITI_S_HARD_HIT_AREAS.asp

[Judi Lynn]

2. Bush got what he sought in Haiti.

He should have to live with it in person.

I pray for the days when the world can know there's a mentally fit man in the White House. This one has a bad heart, as well. He doesn't respect anyone outside his narrow social caste.