25263: Severe:(publish) BBC story on new ICG report (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Constantin Severe <csevere@hotmail.com>


Haiti faces 'explosive' situation
BBC 6/1/05

The UN needs to take control of Haiti's law enforcement, the ICG says
Haiti is caught in a "deep political, social and economic crisis", says a
new report by Brussels-based think tank International Crisis Group (ICG).
The security situation is "explosive" despite the presence of a 7,400 UN
peacekeeping force, it says.

It blames warring gangs - supporters or opponents of ousted President Jean
Bertrand Aristide - for the bloodshed.

Several people have been killed in fresh outbreaks of violence as the UN
voted to extend its mandate by 24 days.

The reports says "powerful spoilers" are fomenting the violence and
instability "out of a desire to seek, keep or maximise power, income,
authority, or position".

  Underlying much of the violence is the chronic failure to tackle poverty,
social deprivation and exclusion that endanger most of the population

ICG report

It says that political factions, elements of the business elite,
drug-traffickers and other criminal organisations have a "clear interest in
delaying the elections and in destabilisation".

The continuing violence threatens to overshadow the country's local,
legislative and presidential elections, due between October and December.

At least three people were killed during unrest on Tuesday, including the
French honorary consul in the northern city of Cap Haitien, who was shot
dead as he was driving near the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Human rights groups say more than 600 people have been killed in violence in
the Caribbean island since last October.

UN help

The ICG says the UN needs to take control of law enforcement and security
forces if the situation is to improve.

The human rights situation, says the report, is still alarming with
allegations of summary executions, violence against women and kidnappings by
the Haitian police force.

The recommendations in the ICG's Spoiling Security in Haiti report include:


Increasing the UN police force from the current level of 1,622 to at least
4,600 officers

Neutralising so-called "spoilers" ahead of the elections in order to
safeguard the democratic transition

Disarming and demobilising armed factions coupled with police, judicial,
political and economic reforms
"Underlying much of the violence is the chronic failure to tackle poverty,
social deprivation and exclusion that endanger most of the population," says
the ICG report.