Haiti

(Quelle: UN News) The United Nations today announced the start of the demobilization process in Haiti, where an initial batch of 325 former members of the country's armed forces laid down their arms in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The ex-fighters – mostly from Cap-Haïtien, with 45 from other regions – took part in a solemn ceremony attended by senior government officials as well as the head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

(Quelle: Washington Post) Haiti's justice minister on Saturday accused U.N. peacekeepers of violating their mandate, saying the force blocked police officers from observing a protest in a slum stronghold of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The remarks could bring a confrontation over areas of responsibility between Haiti's U.S.-backed interim government and the 7,400-member U.N. peacekeeping force tasked with supporting the government and restoring a stability that remains elusive one year after Aristide fled a rebel uprising.

(Quelle: Washington Post) Dozens of political parties on Thursday discussed obstacles to crucial elections to fill a power vacuum left by the ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who dominated Haitian politics for 15 years. Aristide's party, Lavalas, took a hard line, telling delegates it would participate only if the former leader is allowed to return from exile in South Africa to serve out a term that would have expired in February 2006.

(Quelle: New York Times) Thousands of supporters of the deposed president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, marched peacefully on Friday through a Haitian slum, calling for his return and praising United Nations troops that secured the demonstration. … Brazilian peacekeepers kept the route under tight control, blocking Haitian police officers who wanted to enter the march's perimeter.

(Quelle: ISN) Tensions remain high in Haiti after police opened fire on protesters in the capital of Port-Au-Prince on Monday, killing two people and wounding some 20 others. The police opened fire when a 2’000-strong group of supporters of deposed president Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched towards the National Palace to observe the one-year anniversary of his ouster.

(Quelle: Le Monde) Plus de 400 morts ces cinq derniers mois: partisans et adversaires d'Aristide ne désarment pas.

(Quelle: ISN Security Watch) Until the international community is willing to amplify the peacekeeping operation and forcefully crack down on the rebels, Haiti will remain on the verge of conflict and instability.

(Quelle: New York Times) The Provisional Electoral Council announced dates for local and national elections. It said 7,000 local and regional posts will be contested on Oct. 9, while the elections for president and 129 legislators will take place on Nov. 13.

(Quelle: Washington Post) Haiti's interim prime minister said on Saturday his government would not talk directly with former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, but he welcomed foreign efforts to persuade the ousted leader to help end violence in the country. … Violence between pro- and anti-Aristide forces has killed at least 240 people since September.

(Quelle: Reliefweb) It all started so optimistically for Brazil's peacekeeping mission in Haiti. Back in June, a grateful population welcomed the troops. Brazil's soccer superstars showed up to play a special 'peace game' and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the blighted Caribbean country to spread his brand of good cheer. The mission would show that Brazil was ready to assume a role as a regional diplomatic power with a more socially aware approach than the heavy-handed United States. It is turning out to be more complicated than that. Armed factions in Haiti have grown more violent and clashes between peacekeepers and Haitians have raised the risk that people will turn against the foreign troops.