20328: (Hermantin) Sun-SentinelTop Priority: Quell Violence (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Top Priority: Quell Violence

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
Posted March 10 2004


If the U.S. plotted the "regime change" in Haiti, as some allege, then it
was perhaps the most inept coup d'etat the hemisphere has seen in some time.

A week after U.S. troops escorted deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
into exile, Haiti remains a chaotic, volatile country.

The folks controlling events in Haiti are not U.S. military or diplomatic
officials or their Haitian and Caribbean allies, but thugs with guns. On
Sunday, shots fired from a rooftop killed seven people and wounded others,
including a South Florida Sun-Sentinel photographer.

Two men, two rifles and maybe two minutes' worth of gunshots: That's all it
took to spark bedlam.

The turmoil produced by the gunfire highlights the enormity of the task
facing Haiti, a country of 8 million people largely ruled by armed gangs,
many of which were involved in the rebellion against Aristide that forced
him into exile in the Central African Republic.

Aristide claims U.S. forces kidnapped him as part of a plot to remove him
from the presidency. His allies, including some members of the Congressional
Black Caucus in Washington, believe him.

The instability in Haiti, however, suggests Aristide's undoing was his
inability during the past decade to quell violence and to gain control of
the thugs that routed police forces loyal to him.

Armed gangs present the greatest challenge to leaders and opposition members
trying to lead Haiti toward tranquility. If they and their allies in the
international arena fail to present a show of force to compel the gangs to
stand down, Haiti has no hope.

Haitians can choose new leaders, but until a police or military force
establishes a strong enough presence to deter violence, neither an interim
nor a permanent government will be able to push Haiti toward consensus,
prosperity and tranquility. That task requires, in the short-term, a
significant commitment of troops and police forces from the United States,
France, Canada and Haiti's Caribbean neighbors.

So far, that commitment has been meek and lacking resolve. Now, U.S. Marines
are going to be asked to help disarm the gangs and rebels. That's a needed
order, but more troops will be needed. A United Nations force must arrive
soon to help this effort.

A refocusing of priorities among Haitians is also necessary. They must
shelve the desire to seek vengeance against Aristide's followers, or to
return the erstwhile president to Haiti for a trial on corruption charges.

They must advocate for political civility and an economic development plan
that offers opportunities for peace, not excuses for more violence.

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