ARTICLE - FADH ASKS MARTELLY FOR COMMANDER

FORMERLY DEMOBILIZED SOLDIERS CALL ON MARTELLY TO NAME THEIR COMMANDER
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - The National Coordination of Demobilized Militants of the Armed Forces of Haiti (CONAMIDH), has called the President-elect, Michel Martelly, to name ...., the Chief Commander of the army in order for them to organize.

The General Coordinator of CONAMIDH, Sergeant David Dormé, has indicated that it is the Chief Commander who is constituted to have the highest rank.

Sergeant Dormé indicated that one who is to become the next Chief of Arms must be militarilyy educated, wise, moderate, and understands his officers and soldiers.

Among the persons, according to him, who should occupy these functions, the Sergeant cited Colonel Joseph Baguidy, Former Chief of the unforgettable Anti-Gang Service and Majors Dieunord Alexandre and Gerard Dalvius.

These are models for the institution, he said; adding that these men are supported by civilians such as Diplomat Olicier Pierriche and Historian Georges Michel, to constitute the highest rank of the State's Army.

We need, he said, a modern army,... able to work in collaboration with the National Police of Haiti (PNH) to ensure the security of the country, its citizens and their property.

Sergeant Dormé indicated that, as soon as the next Chief of the Army is appointed, he will be presented at the headquarters and can begin directing the troops immediately. He will inform the Secretary General of CONAMIDH, Sergeant Jean Fednel Lafalaise, to do the same with his battalion.

We have been demobilized, but we remain a legal force, he said, noting that today, there are young people returning to the ranks of the army, who have led in the replacement of those who have died or who have become old.

Those who do not want the army to be re-instituted are thieves who do not want the country to move forward, he launched, recalling that parliamentarians have recognized the existence of the armed forces in the newly amended constitution.

The result of a bloody coup that overthrew a democratically elected President, Jean Bertrand Aristide, on September 30, 1991, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) was demobilized on his return from exile by the Head of State on 15 October 1994.

The President-elect, Michel J. Martelly, has never hidden his desire to create a new armed force to replace UN troops who have returned to the country following the forced departure of President Aristide on February 29, 2004.

"The presence of MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) in the country clearly demonstrates that we need an army", Michel Martelly indicated in April while in Washington, D.C., USA.

He also wished that this new modern army would occupy itself, among other things, with the reconstruction of the country and be able to intervene in disasters.

In all cases, the demobilized bases in Cap-Haïtien made it clear that they will resume their uniforms and their activities as early as May 14, the date of the inauguration of Mr. Martelly, indicating that they will be of much help to him in power.

The last bad experience of demobilized soldiers dates back to 2005, when several of them including their leader Ravix Remicent was killed by police officers or soldiers of MINUSTAH, during an exchange of gunfire, according to official statements.