PRESS CONFERENCE ON HAITI

 

“If you look at Haiti today, you will see quite a worrisome picture”, characterized by polarization, lack of institutions and a certain level of violence, the Head of the United NationsMission in Haiti told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.  “But if you compare the picture today with the time the Mission arrived, you will see that … there has been a very positive evolution.” 

Speaking to the press following his meetings with the Security Council and troop contributors this morning, Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), said that he had presented the Secretary-General’s report on the matter and briefed the Council.  Prior to the end of MINUSTAH’s current mandate on 15 February, the Council would have to decide whether to renew it and for how long.  The Mission had been in Haiti for two and a half years, with its mandate renewed every six months.

The successful outcome of three rounds of elections in 2006 –- presidential, legislative and municipal -– showed how much the Haitian people were committed to pursuing the democratic process, he said.  Also encouraging were the results of the national dialogue and reconciliation process.

Haiti had evolved, trying to leave behind 20 years of polarization and confrontation, he continued.  President Preval had followed through on his campaign promise that he would bring all political forces together, and now there was a large coalition of the country’s most important players.  Prime Minister-designate Alexi’s working plan had been approved unanimously both by the Senate and the House of Deputies.  The population at large wanted to bring stability to the country.

The country had seen interventions from numerous parties, including the United States, the United Nations, the Organization of American States, Canada and France –- “all the combinations possible, in and out, in and out” -- over the past 20 years.  “I think we have to make an effort this time to really leave behind sustainable and permanent institutions, in order not to restart all over again in the future,” he said.

Police reform and training, judicial reform, security, and building capacity and institutions were among the main priorities in Haiti, he continued.  Prison reform was also a significant issue.  At present, most prisoners spent a long time in “preventive detention” that lasted years, in some cases, without formal accusations and without ever seeing a judge.  The Mission was trying to address that human rights violation, together with the Ministry of Justice.  Another problem was that most Haitians with “some sort of education” had left the country.  The President was asking for assistance from the international community, and MINURSO had been supporting his efforts.

On security, he said that, on 15 November 2006, the Mission’s troops had been redeployed to provide logistical and security support for the municipal elections on 3 December 2006.  However, the moment the troops were redeployed, the gangs occupied that space, thus destabilizing the situation.  With a rotation of most of the Mission’s troops taking place immediately after the elections, the Mission had been able to redeploy to Port au Prince and “put a lid on all these criminal activities” only in the middle of December.  Since then, the situation had improved enormously, and the Mission’s security plan for Port au Prince was working very well, and the number of kidnappings was coming down.  In an effort to provide assistance to the Government in apprehending the gang leaders, the Mission had been involved in several large-scale operations at the end of December and the beginning of January.  He was very glad that coordination with the Haitian police was getting better and better.

Responding to a question about violence in Haiti, Mr. Mulet said that he did not think it was politically motivated right now.  There was a lot of violence directed at extorting money from the population and other criminal activities “for economic gain”, as well as in-fighting among various gangs.  When MINUSTAH first arrived in the country, the members of former armed forces of Haiti had been a destabilizing presence, as well.  Although still armed, they were not active and organized now.

Former President Aristide was in South Africa, he said in response to another question.  According to the Haitian Constitution, he could not run for President again.  His political party was now divided into several factions and there was no single organized movement in support of his return.

Asked about the use of “extraordinary aggressive tactics” by the Mission, involving civilian casualties in Site Soley, he replied that there had been some casualties on 5 July 2005 during MINUSTAH’s operation against a gang that was terrorizing the population.  Most of the casualties had been caused by the gang members, who later tried to accuse the Mission’s forces.  That had been the case in some recent incidents, as well.  For example, on 22 December 2006, the Mission had not even concluded its operations, when reports came that some 80 people had been killed, that the Mission had been firing from helicopters, that it did not allow the Red Cross to rescue the injured people, that it was using heavy artillery -– all of those accusations since proven false.  The Mission had also been accused of killing a 7-year-old boy three days ago, but there was a witness who had seen a gang member do it.  “When you have psychopaths like them, leading these gang groups, you can expect anything,” he said.

It was clear that MINUSTAH’s presence was a problem for people benefiting from disorder, including gang leaders, smugglers and drug traffickers, he said.  However, the Haitian State and Government –- the product of legitimate elections –- asked the Mission to assist them.  All MINUSTAH’s operations were being conducted in support of the Government’s initiatives and actions.  Without an executive mandate from the Security Council, the Mission could go “no farther or faster” than what the Government asked it to do.  The Mission’s rules of engagement were very strict and clear.  “We will never ever shoot, unless we are shot at.”

Asked if that meant that some 11 people reported killed and wounded last week had been “all from the gang side”, he said, “We might have killed some of them, also.  But we only shoot at people who shoot at us.”

MINUSTAH’s troops received fire on a daily basis, he added, but that was proof that it was putting pressure on the gangs, diminishing the capacity of the criminals “to go out and get people”.  However, several soldiers had been injured and two Jordanian soldiers had been killed.

Regarding drug trafficking, he said that, although Haiti was a transit and not a producing country, it was a big problem, as was money laundering.  Drugs came to Haiti mainly by air.  However, the mandate of the Mission did not include actions to stop drug trafficking.  All it could do was build the Government’s capacity in dealing with the problem and to call on some Member States to provide assistance. 

To a question regarding the future mandate of the Mission, he said that it was up to the Council to make that decision.  The recommendation in the Secretary-General’s report was to keep the strength of the Mission at the same level.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record