HAITI: Looking More and More Like a War Zone

[Derechos]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Mar 30, 2010 (IPS) - On an empty road in Cite Militaire, an industrial zone across from the slums of Cite Soleil, a group of women are gathered around a single white sack of U.S. rice. The rice was handed out Monday morning at a food distribution by the Christian relief group World Vision.

According to witnesses, during the distribution U.N. peacekeeping troops sprayed tear gas on the crowd.

"Haitians know that's the way they act with us. They treat us like animals," said Lourette Elris, as she divided the rice amongst the women. "They gave us the food, we were on our way home, then the troops threw tear gas at us. We finished receiving the food, we weren't disorderly. "

Some 9,000 U.N. peacekeepers, known by the acronym MINUSTAH, have occupied Haiti since 2004, including 7,000 soldiers of which the majority are Brazilian. The mission has been dogged by accusations of human rights violations.

"It's time to begin thinking about changing the nature of MINUSTAH's mission," Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim told the Brazilian newspaper O Estado after the January earthquake struck Haiti.

"MINUSTAH's mandate is to maintain the peace, that is, security, but the U.N. needs to realise that its mission is no longer solely to strengthen security but also to build the infrastructure," he said.

So far, there's no evidence of a shift in policy.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50855

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for posting this. Sad learning the UN peacekeepers are spraying people with tear gas

who are waiting for meager rations of rice.

Clearly they DON'T see them as being human beings, like themselves.

You'd think the UN would have made sure to send men and women to represent them who IDENTIFY with human beings.

[protocol rv]

4. Come on

if they thought they weren't human beings, they would use insecticide. Here in Venezuela the National Guard uses tear gas, and we don't think they think the protesters are not human beings.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Kicking, recommend #1.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Wilms]

3. k&r n/t

[EFerrari]

5. We're watching a crime in progress.

I miss magbana. :(

[EFerrari]

6. Amy reported on this today.

As Donors Pledge $9.9B for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction, Haitians Call for Inclusivity, Justice in Rebuilding Effort

International donors have committed $9.9 billion for the reconstruction of earthquake-ravaged Haiti over the next several years. Over fifty nations and international organizations made the pledges at a UN donor conference after the Haitian government unveiled a long-awaited rebuilding plan. It’s unclear how much of the pledges come from previous commitments and how much will actually be delivered. We hear from Haitians protesting outside the conference and speak to Haitian radio host and activist Roger Leduc, as well as Kim Yves of the newspaper Haiti Liberté.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/kim_roger_donors_pledge

There are two other stories that can be found here:

“We Made a Devil’s Bargain”: Fmr. President Clinton Apologizes for Trade Policies that Destroyed Haitian Rice Farming
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/clinton_rice

Dr. Paul Farmer, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Haiti, on Haiti’s Challenges Following Catastrophic Earthquake and Years of Western Domination
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/paul_farmer

[Judi Lynn]

7. Just read your 2nd link. Unbearable! Apparently Clinton does differ from Republicans

because he did apologize, after all. I guess everyone should just drop it, since he apologized!

No doubt a right-wing president would hire the local idle ton ton macoutes to go in and slaughter ALL the protesters to formally close the subject, now that they have lost their ability to sustain themselves with rice production. Now they have to bake lumps of earth they form into circles, to which they try to add flavor, just to comfort, and ease a little, the emptiness in their stomachs.

Tremendous article. I had to stop and add it to my own files before finishing the reading. It's so important. Thank you.

[Mika]

8. When is he going to apologize for the so called "free trade" deals destroying America....

.. and empowering greedy anti labor corporations?

"Free trade" = trade away our freedom.

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