Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ARTICLE - REACTIONS TO NEW FORCE

REACTIONS AROUND THE NEW NATIONAL FORCE
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly announced Friday November 18th, the formation of a Civil Commission [whose deceee will be published on November 21]. The latter will have to discuss with the various forces of the Nation, to define an agenda and develop a doctrine in the context of the operationalization of the new National Defence Force. This Commission will have to submit its report to the Government on January 12, 2012.

The historian, George Michel, a strong militarist, known for his nationalism and Adviser to the Minister of Defense on this issue, has issued his first comments, after the speech of the Head of State.

"...President Martelly said everything that needs to be said. He said that the return of the armed forces was a campaign promise, that he is committed to achieve it and that he will do it. That is what he said in substance. There is nothing new under the sun. Since the army is a constitutional institution, which is not running, and is not organized he will organize it. It is essentially what ... the President said Friday. There are people, unfortunately, who up to November 17th wanted to do things haphazardly, and the President told them in clear terms, that he would not accept that.

...I'm still an Adviser to the Minister of Defence on the issue, but it is not the fact that I am Advisor, that I will be a member of the next Commission, [...] I'm still on the case, but with a different title and other functions...

...listen I've been a member of two commissions, one under Mr. Latortue, the other under Mr. Préval and I think it's a big job. What I believe that the Commission can do in the next 40 days, is to send a preliminary report to the President. But the charges that will be entrusted to this Commission, the tasks that will be assigned to it, I think that it's very difficult to fix everything in 40 days and the President will be obliged to grant the Commission additional time [...] because the work of the Commission will not be finished,... I do not think,... I do not see how.

...it is absolutely necessary for this country to have a military force. I think that everyone agrees, except a small handful of people of bad faith, [...] but where the problem arises is what kind of military force? What will be done, how, when? And also, what we will have do to avoid the excesses of the past? All these issues must be addressed before going forward, and I think that it will be a part of the work of the Commission that President Martelly is preparing to appoint in the coming days".

Victor Benoît [former President of Fusion], does not hide his indignation of the occupation of the territory by a foreign force. "The independence of Haiti, after the battle of Vertières, is only virtual today with the virtual presence of foreign troops." While recognizing the constitutionality of the military in Haiti, he believes that this is not a priority.

Instead, Senator Youri Latortue, welcomes the announcement by the Head of State of the establishment of a Civil Commission. He hopes that the withdrawal of UN forces is done, progressively to the strengthening to the police and the presence of a Haitian army in the regions, recognizing that it is the role of the Commission to make recommendations in this regard.

No comments: