19205: Esser: Canadian troops head to Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com

Feb. 25, 2004. 04:02 PM
	 
Canadian troops head to Haiti

OTTAWA (CP) — A small force of Canadian troops, likely members of the
special operations unit Joint Task Force 2, is on its way to Haiti to
protect embassy staff.

They will join a few Canadian Forces planners already in the
war-ravaged country preparing the potential evacuation of over 1,000
Canadians, Maj. Mike Audette said today.

He would not say when the troops would arrive in the capital of
Port-au-Prince, or if they had already arrived.

"We have dispatched CF members to assist the embassy in Haiti with
security measures," Audette said. "We are not in a position to
discuss the composition or numbers of security staff who have been
dispatched."

The soldiers were sent after the Department of Foreign Affairs
``asked for the provision of personnel to assist with security
measures for the embassy and its staff."

A larger contingent of Canadian soldiers, but smaller than a
120-member company, has been put on alert and could depart to further
secure the safety of embassy staff and other Canadian citizens in a
matter of hours, said Audette.

Members of 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, N.B.,
along with elements of the Joint Operations Group out of Kingston,
Ont., and a Hercules aircraft in Trenton, Ont., have been put on
standby, he said.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin today issued a
statement calling for an "immediate" international civilian force to
restore order in Haiti, where a rebellion threatens to topple
President Jean-Baptiste Aristide.

France also said it wants human rights observers to be sent to the
Caribbean country and a "long term" engagement of international aid
aimed at reconstructing Haiti's dismal social and economic situation.

U.S. Marines were escorting foreigners trying to flee Haiti's capital
today as looting broke out and opposition leaders urged a "timely and
orderly" departure of the beleaguered president.

Aristide loyalists built dozens of flaming barricades, blocking roads
all over the city and some leading to the airport.

Washington was encouraging the international community to provide a
strong security presence in Haiti as America and its allies continued
to try to achieve a political solution to the island nation's
escalating violence.

On Tuesday, five Canadian Forces members arrived in Port-au-Prince to
assist the Canadian embassy with planning the evacuation of Canadians
should the situation worsen.

Ottawa has authorized the departure of non-essential staff from the
embassy and all dependants of Canadian government personnel. Overall,
there are about 30,000 foreigners in Haiti, some 20,000 of them
Americans.

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