Haitians slow to disarm

[seemslikeadream]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A U.S.-backed campaign to disarm Haiti after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's ouster has run up against distrust, insecurity and a history of broken promises to Haiti's poor.

The campaign, which began this week, seeks to stabilize Haiti as a new government tries to impose order following a three-week rebellion that led to Aristide's departure Feb. 29.

"If they want us to give up our guns this time, they better give us a good reason," said Jacques Pierre, who lives in the seaside slum of Cite Soleil. Residents there surrendered about 50 pistols, rifles and machine guns Wednesday in a symbolic gesture brokered by French troops.

"None of us want to fight anymore but we also are tired of living like we have," Pierre said.

The small pile of rusted, taped and dilapidated weapons was the first to be formally surrendered in the disarmament campaign, a reminder of what U.S.-led troops tried and failed to accomplish nearly a decade ago.

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2004/03/19/news/news20.txt


Locals watch as rebels patrol the streets in downtown Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city in the north, Thursday Feb. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Pablo Aneli).

[dArKeR]

1. Haitians distrust disarmament program

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/03/20/2003107069

[seemslikeadream]

2. Some turn in their guns, others prefer not to

Haitian police inspect guns that were handed over by supporters of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide in the Cite Soleil district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Wednesday March 17, 2004. Four gangs of Aristide supporters handed over their guns to Haitian police and French peacekeepers.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)



A Haitian policeman tries to control the crowds during a disarming ceremony of supporters of Jean Bertrand Aristide in the Cite Soleil district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Wednesday, March 17, 2004. Four gangs of Aristide supporters handed over their guns to Haitian police and French peacekeepers.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)



Opponents of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide jeer at a man identifying himself as a rebel in civilian clothes in Petion Ville, in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)



Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe (C) greets people as he parades through Port-Au-Prince. Haiti's rebels raised the stakes in the country's crisis by declaring themselves in control of security, refusing to disarm and vowing to arrest the country's prime minister after the sudden weekend resignation and flight into exile of president Jean Bertrand Aristide.(AFP/File/Yuri Cortez



Rebel leader Louis-Jodel Chamblain celebrates after news of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure reached northern Cap Haitien, Haiti, Sunday Feb. 29, 2004. Chamblain, a convicted killer and accused death squad leader, says he has no plans of fading into the shadows. (AP Photo/Pablo Aneli).