HOPE FOR HARMONY IN HAITI

Although Haiti has been known for the violence, kidnapping and political chaos, it has been recently given a much-needed break from it all. This is because of the election into office of Rene Preval last year and the new strong mandate ordered by Haiti’s United Nations Stabilization Mission.

A good example is the current situation in the Cite Soleil’s area of Port-au-Prince. Once considered the most violent of the Haitian neighborhoods, it is now boasted of by its residents that there has been no more fighting.

Jacques Sonny Simea, a 33-year old fisherman says, "Back then, we would be going out, and we could get shot. It wasn't good for us. Now things are better, and we thank God. There's no more shooting."

The peacekeeping troops of the U.N. have been staying in Haiti since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was dismissed in 2004. When a temporary government was put in place, the troops were unable to carry on their mission. Therefore, violence and crime were unfortunately rampant.

Thankfully, when the current President, Rene Preval, was elected last year, things started to change for the better.

"Haiti is living a very special moment in its history," Edmond Mulet states. "I think that it is an exceptional moment. We have the right ingredients…. I think that Haiti has an enormous potential." Edmond Mulet was the special representative to Haiti of the U.N. secretary-general.

According to Mulet, it was hard before for the troops of the U.N. to deal with the issues of violence at the time of the temporary government. He said that the troops “did not have a legitimate voice.”

The temporary government even incarcerated some political opponents, who were in Aristide’s party mostly, without any charges filed. This interim leadership was supported by France, Canada and the United States.

At present, security has been made better by the U.N. due to Preval’s leadership. Mulet viewed him as a “private man who is trying to be a uniting figure in a country that has experienced decades of political turmoil.”

One of the primary aspirations of Preval once elected was to manage the violence. He tried to offer negotiations with the Cite Soleil gangs, however, they ordered for money and passports to be given to them so they could leave Haiti.

Preval then asked for the help of the U.N. forces, who were under Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, the Brazilian military commander, to confront them. And fortunately, they were able to handle them well, according to Santos Cruz.

Santos Cruz said, "The situation changed because we controlled all the neighborhoods." He even added that most of the gang leaders have been arrested and have been put to jail.

The data given by the U.N. illustrate how violence in Haiti has decreased dramatically. In January of last year, there was a reported 240 attacks on the troops of the U.N. During these last six months, there were only 12. Kidnapping incidents also went down.

However, this success was not achieved without a cost. A lot of U.N. troops were accused of executing innocent civilians when they carried out their operations.

Mario Joseph, a human rights lawyer and also a former party member of Aristide, said that he had 22 death certificates of the people killed by the U.N. forces when they first attacked Cite Soleil.

The slums near the seaside have always been a fortress of Aristide’s supporters and Joseph argues that the raids made there were punitive, although Santos Cruz hrefuted this charge.

Although the battle scars are present all over Cite Soleil, residents are adamant that they still trust the troops more. One young resident, Ingado Pierre, said Cite Soleil residents have started taking on more responsibility, as well. He said, "We want peace and to live well." Indeed, this is what is needed in Haiti, peace and respect for the rule of law.