13431: Karshan: Second Phase of Disarmament Campaign (Downey McGrath press release) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

ENTERING SECOND PHASE, IMPLEMENTATION OF DISARMAMENT CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
THROUGHOUT HAITI

Government Reinforces Pledge to Protect All Haitians, Build Climate of
Security


PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (October 23, 2002) - For the past week, long lines of
vehicles could be seen on roadways throughout Haiti, as the Haitian
Government's large-scale disarmament campaign moved into its next stage.  The
second phase of the nationwide disarmament program, now under way, is focused
on searches of vehicles and homes, stricter licensing of guns and a more
intense public information broadcast campaign.

The initial phase of the campaign began in May 2002 with the launch of a
weapons buy-back program, a preliminary public information campaign, a
reorganization of licensing requirements and processes for obtaining gun
permits, and the proposal of legislation to limit the type of weapons
utilized by private security firms.

"The disarmament problem is not only Haiti's problem - it is a problem in
other countries as well," said Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
"Disarmament is a long process.  It is not a program that can be realized in
two days, or in a week."

Over the past year and a half, President Aristide has called for peace and
disarmament in a series of meetings with residents and various organizations
from areas throughout Haiti that have experienced violence and armed
conflicts, including the Cite Soleil and La Saline regions.  Historically,
disarmament has always been a top priority of President Aristide's and his
administration.  It was at his request that disarmament was included as an
element in the UN resolution that provided for his return to Haiti in the
mid-90s.  Upon returning to Haiti, President Aristide repeatedly urged
multi-national forces to support the Haitian Government in a major
disarmament campaign.  It was also the Government's continued commitment to
disarmament that prompted the Organization of American States (OAS) to
include "the development and implementation of a comprehensive disarmament
program" as one of the elements in its recent OAS Resolution 822.

Since May, the Haitian National Police have increased their presence in
business areas and have opened additional police stations throughout Haiti to
facilitate the disarmament effort.  This intensified police presence in Haiti
has led to the dismantling of gangs throughout the country and the seizure of
considerable numbers of weapons.  In one such effort, police recently
arrested two people and seized 22 weapons, including machine guns, during a
nighttime raid of the Cite Soleil neighborhood.  But the disarmament campaign
is not targeted only at certain regions in Haiti that have experienced
violence in the past.  Rather, as President Aristide and Prime Minister Yvon
Neptune have repeatedly said, the disarmament process will be applied across
the board in Haiti and will not target any one area or sector.

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This material is distributed by Downey McGrath Group, Inc., on behalf of the
Government of Haiti.  Additional information is available at the Department
of Justice, Washington, DC.


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