Haiti and its new army

Jun 18, 2007
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Haiti has been without military forces since 1995, when former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide disbanded the army after returning to power following a coup, leaving the national police responsible for security.

The army’s comeback has been a divisive topic in a country still suffering from a catastrophic earthquake and a fierce hurricane in recent years, with critics and activists concerned that armed forces would meddle in politics and rob essential resources from education and health care.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday named former army colonel Jodel Lesage as acting commander-in-chief, moving troops closer to full operation. The appointment still needs to be approved by Haiti’s senate.

On Saturday, Moise welcomed the army’s anticipated return with a parade featuring dozens of camouflaged soldiers toting rifles in the northern coastal city of Cap-Haitien, calling on Haitians to recall the Battle of Vertieres won against French colonialists exactly 214 years ago.

“The army is our mother,” he said. “When your mother is sick and wears dirty clothes, you do not kill her. You take her to the hospital. So let us join forces to provide needed care to our mother.”

After Haiti’s independence, the military mounted dozens of coups and its forces were accused of rampant human rights abuses.

Moise acknowledged that history, but vowed that the new military would be different.

Members of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD'H) parade in the streets of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, November 18, 2017. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares
The United Nations has called for increased support for the Haitian National Police (HNP) with about 15,000 members.

A U.N.-backed mission to aid Haiti’s justice system and law enforcement arrived in October, replacing a much larger peacekeeping mission that had focused on stability efforts since 2004.

Slideshow (18 Images)
“Having demonstrated its ability to maintain stability and guard against security threats, the HNP has emerged as one of the most trusted governmental institutions in Haiti,” U.N. spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement last month.

Haitian defense minister Herve Denis told Reuters the army will begin with 500 soldiers in engineering, medical and aviation corps, but is still working to fill its ranks.

A recruiting process was well underway by last July, attracting many young men in a country that is the poorest in the Americas.

Denis said the government plans to ultimately expand to 5,000 troops working to protect Haitian borders, fight terrorism, curb illegal trade and aid Haitians affected by natural disasters.

Government opponents fear the Moise administration could use the military to crack down on foes despite the president’s claims that troops will steer clear of politics.

“I don’t believe the Moise regime really wants to reinstate the army, but instead set up a political militia to persecute political opponents,” said Andre Michel, spokesman for an opposition coalition that has called for Moise’s resignation.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ersial-return-after-two-decades-idUSKBN1DJ01M
 

Russell

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2017
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Don't forget China is snuggling in with Haiti.... no arms race just lots of AK47's and mobile equipment.
Keep our eyes open on this one....assume nothing!
It is going to get very interesting....
Taiwan is sending equipment to RD........... here comes the ''political football game''.
Russell
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
40,964
936
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Don't forget China is snuggling in with Haiti.... no arms race just lots of AK47's and mobile equipment.
Keep our eyes open on this one....assume nothing!
It is going to get very interesting....
Taiwan is sending equipment to RD........... here comes the ''political football game''.
Russell
Do you think we're seeing the beginning of a proxy war?
 

Russell

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2017
1,056
337
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Cobraboy , these alignments of foreign nations are done mostly during times of opportunity. It would appear that opportunity for this is very much today.
The China Taiwan wrestling match is heading for an offshore venue.. Haiti and RD... or so it seems.
Nothing is for sure , but it is overly suspicious.
Haiti is ripe for pure Socialism and RD for capitalism... both in opposite corners.
USA and Europe seem to be focusing more on domestic issues and challenges ; so for now the doors of opportunism are open. Just how long this will be 'open' is all a matter of time. And only time will tell.

Even more interesting is a letter I read recently from a Corporation made up of Ex- Special Forces personnel looking for funding and support to rebuild Puerto Rico. Now that smells like opportunism .
I remember years ago when Rebel Forces fought for Puerto Rican Independence. I think USA should watch the back door on this interesting initiative.
By the way I am not a conspiracy buff nor an alarmist... just interested in such goings on.

Proxy war!
Too soon to speculate ; but, one never knows.
Whatever does happen will happen within the next five years.
By the way, the Chinese play both sides of the match...... and with great enthusiasm .
Hey, I like Chinese food!

Russell
 
Sep 20, 2003
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Jean-Bertrand Aristide...

The security situation in Haiti is fragile. The reason they restarted the Garde d'Haiti is to allow the UN troops to leave and still have a relatively strong security force to deal with emergencies. Granted, the Haitian military has a long history of coups, but I believe the international community is trying to provide the country with small (relatively) well armed unit to combat powerful criminal gangs.

When I lived in Haiti, I was suprised by how many Haitians supported a return of the army. The Haitians want security. They are afraid of the former drug gangs returning (who previously had the solid support of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide). Some of the Haitians I spoke with felt that a heavily armed army was better suited to deal with drug lords than the Haitian police. Also, believe it or not, there were a few Haitians who were proud of the history of the revolutionary Haitian army (inspite of even the revolutionary army's checkered history) and want it to return, if only as a battalion sized unit. Haiti is a poor country, but it's a proud country that wants to maintain some its traditions. The Haitian army is an extremely important part of their history.

The doubt the Haitian 'army' will get much larger. There's no money.

I watched a commissioning ceremony on You Tube last year, and the officer corps is a bit comic opera. The UN can't stay there forever; the Haitians have to stand on their own feet sometime.

I (honestly) believe the immediate purpose of the army is to guard against the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his drug lord allies. They should have never allowed Jean-Bertrand Aristide to return. That was a mistake.
 

cbmitch9

Bronze
Nov 3, 2010
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You can't treat an old dog new tricks. As always, the only ones to suffer will be the Haitians who are poor. Politicians in Haiti seem to abhor stability.