Why We Shouldn't Support Plan for New Army in Haiti

Last week, a proposal from Haiti’s President Michel Martelly to create a new Haitian army was breaking news. Haitians have been talking about the possibility of the former Haitian army, known by its French acronym as the FAd’H, being reconstituted since it was disbanded in 1994. In recent years, proponents for the reconstitution of the army have used the ongoing presence of foreign soldiers in the UN peacekeeping mission (known by its acronym, MINUSTAH) as one of the reasons to bring back a national military force.

Click to read more ...

Haiti: Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse

By: Beverly Bell, Other Worlds, originally posted here.

We may soon look back on this period in Haiti with greater appreciation. Amidst the world-historic levels of death and suffering from last January’s earthquake, citizens have at least been spared the scale of government violence that has marked much of their nation’s past (not-with-standing attacks against internally displaced persons during forced evictions, and occasionally against street protesters.)

Click to read more ...