International Troops withdrawal from Haiti?

[Serge Bellegarde*]

LATIN AMERICA: Haiti troops may withdraw


On April 9, Jose Bayardi, the Uruguayan defence minister, told a press conference that Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brazil were considering withdrawing from the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti, the multinational force backing the US-installed government of America’s poorest country. At the moment, Latin American countries make up the bulk of UNMSH forces, with Brazil providing 1200 troops, Uruguay, 784; Argentina, 556 and Chile, 576. Bayardi said that military was not a solution for Haiti, and that there would be no advances without reconstruction. He argued that troop withdrawal would speed up the arrival of much-needed aid. The decision by “left-wing” Latin American governments to support the mission has been controversial on the continent, since the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was kidnapped and exiled by US marine
s in 2004. Chile has since confirmed its troops will stay.

From Green Left Weekly, April 20, 2005

[jafrikayiti*]

Serge,

I would not take seriously these threats of withdrawal. These countries are negotiating with the U.S. but the agenda of the U.N. forces in Haiti is proceeding full speed. The psychological preparation having been made by eliminating some collateral damages within the ranks of their beloved "freedom fighters", they now proceed to complete the clean-up they had already started without much fanfare in the pro-Lavalas neighborhoods.

You will notice the same pattern whereby the killings are attributed to the Haitian police (when it cannot be hidden) and the U.N. forces being there only as "peacekeepers". But, somehow durin the "clashes" which should never be deemed "ambushes" or "executions", the casualties occur on one side alone.

So, the announced gunning down of Dread Wilmer, is likely to occur within the coming hours. The psychological set up having been completed.

While we read in:"UN force in Haiti kill gangste
r who shoots dead Filipino peacekeeper"

http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/2005 ... 81475.html

"According to Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, Philippine contingent commander in Haiti, the unidentified gang member was shot dead by Jordanian troops during an hour-long firefight that also involved elements of the Haitian National Police and peacekeepers from Peru.

Lucero said he was informed about the death of the gang member by the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) a few hours after the gun battle - believed to be longest and fiercest the police and UN peacekeepers have ever been involved in since the international community intervened in Haiti last year.

Reports said two Haitian police officers and 20 gang members who also wounded in the firefight that was triggered by a joint MINUSTAH-police operation aimed at restoring order in Cite Soleil and also at finding gang leader Dread Wilmer.

Reports also said th
at a hail of gunfire met peacekeepers as they entered the sprawling slum area with a population of about 350,000."

An earlier report by Lindsay Reed had told us that "Haitian police backed by U.N. peacekeepers encircled heavily armed gangs, killing at least five gunmen".

Two questions: Is it now confirmed that the number of people killed is 10 rather than 5 or some other number. And was it the Haitian police or the U.N. (Jordanians) that did the killing?

How many times, have we lived this same scenario in the past?

Strange indeed how, when the U.N. gets into clashes with Latortue's "freedom fighters", the end result is 2 casualties on both sides. Yet, we are encouraged to believe that clashes in Cité Soleil where "a hail of gunfire met peacekeepers as they entered the sprawling slum area" ends up with NO casualty on the U.N. side, 10 on the side of the "violent Haitian street gang ". Some recent articles speaks of more than 20 casualties on the side of those no
w deemed "bandits" by press outlets like Kiskeya and Metropole. If you watch an excerpt from the 1915 U.S. occupation of Haiti, you will hear the reporter describing how the Marines are working tirelessly to fight of "Haitian bandits"....I guess, nearly a century later the same terminology applies to describe an illegal, murderous occupation wiping out those resisting its imposed dictatorship, brought about by blatant coup d'état.

So many criminals are involved in this...no wonder most reporters are being extra careful using U.S. approved language to describe broad day slaughters.

No, the U.N. forces aint going away...only Haiti's hope to self-determination and prosperity are, day after day.

Jaf