29328: (news) Chamberlain: Haiti-US-Embargo (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By STEVENSON JACOBS

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 10 (AP) -- The United States partially lifted a
15-year-old arms embargo against Haiti, the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday,
allowing the troubled Caribbean nation to buy weapons for police battling
violent -- and often better armed -- street gangs.
   The move comes after President Rene Preval's new government openly
criticized the embargo, saying it was hampering its ability to restore
order and confront gangs that flourished after a 2004 revolt toppled
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
   The modified embargo approved by the State Department is aimed at
helping Haitian and U.N. authorities "fight against rampant criminal and
gang activity," said U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Shaila B. Manyam.
   It allows the government to apply for licenses to buy firearms, body
armor and other items for police, Manyam said. Private groups, companies
and individuals are still restricted from buying arms under the embargo.
   The policy change appears to underscore Washington's vote of confidence
in Preval, a soft-spoken champion of the poor who took office in May and
has worked to reform the corruption-riddled police force while challenging
gangsters to lay down their guns.
   "The United States government has taken note of the great changes in
Haiti since the imposition of this embargo, namely a peaceful and
democratically elected government," Manyam said.
   The United States imposed the embargo in 1991 when Aristide was
overthrown the first time, barring sales of weapons except "in a case of
exceptional or undue hardship, or when it is otherwise in the interest of
the United States government."
   The move barred Haiti from buying guns from U.S. suppliers, but experts
say the country is awash in thousands of firearms smuggled in illegally --
many from the U.S.
   Aristide tried to have the ban lifted after 20,000 U.S. troops returned
him to power in 1994 but was rebuffed by U.S. officials, who cited police
ties to cocaine trafficking and the slaying of government opponents.
   Haiti's ambassador in Washington, Raymond Joseph, called the easing of
the weapons ban a "welcome decision."
   "I think it will be quite helpful to Haiti's police," said Joseph. "We
thought that it was tying Haiti's hands behind its back while the bandits
had all the heavy weapons."
   But some Haitian lawmakers were not satisfied with the relaxed ban and
called on Washington to fully remove the embargo.
   "A legitimate government can acquire any type of weapon from any
country," said Steven Benoit, a congressman from Preval's Lespwa party, on
private Radio Metropole.
   Benoit said the modified embargo only allows the purchase of small arms,
not the high-powered weapons police say they need to combat gangs. U.S.
officials were not immediately available to comment on the congressman's
statement.
   Benoit said Haiti could go elsewhere to get the guns it needs.
   "If the United States refuses to sell an M-16 to the national police,
Haiti can acquire an equivalent or an AK-47 manufactured by Russia," he
said.
   Haiti's capital fell into chaos after the 2004 revolt as well-armed,
pro-Aristide street gangs, former rebels and rogue police clashed almost
daily, killing hundreds.
   Since the revolt, U.S. and U.N. officials have been working to bolster a
revamped police force. Gangs have been attacking police and U.N.
peacekeepers with high-powered weapons.
   An 8,800-strong U.N. peacekeeping force provides the only real security
in Haiti, which has just 4,000 police for a population of 8 million.
Experts say it needs at least 10 times that number.
   In an exception to the embargo last year, the United States authorized
two shipments of weapons for Haiti's police but required they remain in
U.S. custody and only be given to officers who were properly vetted.