Haiti After the Press Went Home

[struggle4progress]

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The situation on the ground is dreadful. The country is in desperate need but meaningful assistance fails to materialize. Following Aristide’s ouster, the United Nations called for $35 million in emergency funds from foreign donors but so far has only managed to raise about $9 million. The country is descending into chaos and to have a better understanding of what lies ahead, one needs to look no further than to the latest travel warning for Haiti issued by the Bureau of consular affairs at the State Department.

According to that statement, the “situation in Haiti remains unpredictable and potentially dangerous despite the presence of foreign security forces.” This warning followed a report issued in early May by the United Nations reaching a similar conclusion.
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This interim administration boasts itself about being technocratic and bringing tangible change to the population. But, as it is becoming clear, these technocrats have not only embarked on a regressive trend, they have set the stage for a complete turnaround toward chaos. The security apparatus is in the verge of collapsing due to the proliferation of small arms, the mere presence of the heavily armed rebels and Aristide loyalists, the increasing gang activities, the rampant rise in kidnappings and the release of 3,000 prisoners by Guy Philippe and his squads following the ouster of Mr. Aristide. Some of the rebels will be integrated into the police force despite the fact that they killed a great number of policemen and burned down police headquarters in the lead up to the coup.

In most parts of the country, they appointed themselves as mayors, police chiefs and judges. Under Mr. Aristide’s leadership, the police force was often criticized for being too heavily politicized. Under this technocratic administration, the police force will consist of convicted human rights abusers, murderers, rapists, thugs and death squads who have committed some of the worst atrocities during the first coup in 1991.
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http://www.counterpunch.org/pierre06212004.html