ARTICLE - UN - READY TO INTERVENE - FAD'H

U.N. MISSION SAYS READY TO INTERVENE WITH REMOBILIZED HAITIAN ARMY
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - The Chief Information Officer for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Eliane Nabaa, indicated on Monday that peacekeepers are ready to intervene to disarm and/or dislodge groups that have been occupying several old facilities once used by the Armed Forces of Haiti, disbanded since 1995.

In an interview with Radio Solidarity, Nabaa stressed that MINUSTAH will intervene only in support of Haiti's other national defense force, the Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH), and that assistance must be requested by the Haitians.

"We are here available and willing, ready to cooperate if they requested the assistance of MINUSTAH, but it is the responsibility of the PNH to act," said Nabaa.

The UN official also said that MINUSTAH and the actors of the international community are still assessing the risk of the Haitian government and its tolerance to armed groups outside of the PNH. These groups have occupied several facilities in the country and certain parties have begun to express concern that it could lead to conflicts.

MINUSTAH Chief Mariano Fernandez at the United Nations on Friday minimized the threat, saying that the battalions of men and women training throughout the country are ill equipped to pose a threat to the 10,000 or so peacekeeping soldiers.

Nabaa still believes that concrete steps should be accompanied with ultimatums that she understands were given by the presidency and the Ministry of the Interior and National Defense and have already expired.

Haitian lawmakers and members of civil society criticize what they call the laxity of the authorities in the case of armed groups. Some members feel that the presence of armed men in the former military sites paves the way for the formation of all other groups. And MINUSTAH must act with or without government approval.

Deputy Ronald Larèche (Fort-Liberte/Alternative), member of the House Justice and Public Safety Committee, said that MINUSTAH should not wait for government approval to disarm and dislodge the groups that occupy the old bases.

In fact, armed men in military fatigues, and other demobilized military or descendants, have occupied since Monday morning a Local Office of the Ministry of Agriculture in Cap-Haitien (northeast).

Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), Pierre Esperance, denounced what he called the laxity of the authorities, a behavior that could be taken as evidence that the government is currently setting up a paramilitary group.

"This is a situation that neither the Parliament nor the public should accept," said Esperance, who sees a bad precedent, and a serious danger to the public.

MP Larèche also believes that the Director General of the PNH, Mario Andresol, should take drastic action against any member of the police institution that refuses to obey his orders.

Rumors circulate all the time of which changes will be made ​​shortly to lead the PNH, aimed at weakening the police institution and pushing subordinates to rebel , according to MPs.