9860: RE: 9850: The Senate did not keep its promise (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Walton, Robert" <waltonr@emh1.ftmeade.army.mil>

Zenglendo--A UN/OAS civilian mission report described the role and origin of
zenglendos in Haitian society
<http://www.hrw.org/about/projects/womrep/General-34.htm >:  

IMHO- Zenglendo violence is motivated by both criminal profit and support of
the "thug portion" of Lavalas.

Extracts-- 

"Some of this violence may be assumed to be purely criminal, without
political motivation. However, it is widely believed in Haiti that even
zenglendos operate under the cover, or with the express tacit consent of the
police, and that their operation, while involving armed robberies, may also
be intended to intimidate the population of localities most opposed to the
post-coup authorities and committed to the return of President Aristide.
  
One Port-au-Prince women's rights activist told us that she believes: the
military formed the zenglendos as a paramilitary force. All these people are
connected with the military-they just do not have uniforms. The police let
armed civilians do these things. They create an atmosphere in which
lawlessness prevails. It is to their advantage to have the population
cowed."