International nation building initiatives have proven yet again to be inadequate for the enormous task of rebuilding Haiti . The security environment within Haiti has continued to deteriorate steadily since the forceful ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (see photo: UN Photo #UNE4543 by Michelle Poir?), with little progress being made by the 9,000-member United Nations peacekeeping force. As repeatedly discussed by TRC in the WAR Report, the security environment within Haiti is non-conducive to presidential and legislative elections originally scheduled for January 8, 2006 and since rescheduled for February 7 (WAR Report). Delaying elections for a fourth time should not be viewed as a failure of the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) but the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the UN should use the additional time for advantageous purposes. However, this week the UN Security Council complicated the process by insisting that an election date be assigned immediately. The country’s interim government was quick to acquiesce to UN wishes. The democratic process is long and arduous, requiring much sacrifice from all the parties involved. Specific conditions on the ground must be present for elections to be held successfully in Haiti; these conditions are currently lacking. The inherent need of the international community to hold democratic elections in nations that are not ripe for them has long proven disastrous and has set the process of nation building back several steps.
A clear definition of the role of UN peacekeepers must first be decided upon. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has increasingly fallen under attack by Haitian gangs, petty criminals, and remnants still loyal to Aristide. In the past month, one UN Canadian peacekeeper was killed and four Chilean peacekeepers wounded. Yet, the higher UN body allows these peacekeeping contingents to continue to operate in an environment that is worsening daily without a clear definition of their role. Some contend that UN forces are meant to act as an international police force within Haiti, while others believe they are to disarm the local populace and actively engage remaining hostile elements. As discussed in a previous WAR Report, the current security situation is precarious for UN peacekeepers who have not been adequately instructed in disarmament peacekeeping missions. Without a new approach by UN peacekeepers, the current mission is likely to resemble that of the failed peacekeeping mission in Somalia . Added to growing frustrations within MINUSTAH, the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, General Urano Teixeira De Matta Bacellar, was found dead over the weekend, apparently from a self-inflicted head wound. Consequently, a new MINUSTAH commander was named: Chilean General Eduardo Aldunate Herman has been assigned the unenviable task of securing the country for democratic elections less than a month away.
In December 2005, Haiti surpassed Colombia as the kidnapping capital of the western hemisphere ? quite a dishonorable distinction (WAR Report). Criminal enterprises continue to grow and are becoming increasingly hostile to UN peacekeeping forces. The combined lack of security will not allow for elections to be held in the manner that is necessary for Haiti to return to a level of normalcy. If Haitian gangs begin to capture and hold UN peacekeepers?likely to begin to take place before long?the international community will likely begin to grow disenchanted with their endeavor and may seek a means of exiting Haiti. To accomplish this task, they will increasingly push for Haitian elections, seeking to achieve a sense of accomplishment in an otherwise failed UN mission. This will allow foreign governments to begin the short process of removing their troops before any more peacekeepers are killed, wounded, and or taken captive for ransom.
The upcoming weeks and months will be imperative to the future stability of Haiti. Rosemond Prodi, secretary general of the Provisional Council, must cease his smear campaign against the UN and realize that Haiti is not yet ready for elections. The CEP, UN, and the OAS were mistaken in setting a date for future elections that, if not met, will only lead to future criticism and anger. UN peacekeepers must show a renewed commitment to disarming all segments of the populace in a manner that does not appear to discriminate against any one party. All sectors of the population, including criminal elements, must be brought to the negotiating table to determine what is necessary to ensure their future cooperation in rebuilding their country. After all parties are heard from and their commitment to renewed peace efforts are obtained, only then can planning for presidential and legislative elections begin anew. In the meantime, the international community, including the United States, must throw full support behind the rebuilding of the Haitian economy so criminal elements turn to legitimate forms of capitalistic endeavors.
However, if the international community continues to insist that elections be held next month, then more of the same will be forthcoming for the people of Haiti, and another UN peacekeeping force will be needed sometime in the near future. Finger pointing and Security Council meetings will not achieve fruitful results and will serve to highlight current inadequacies. Delaying the elections will allow the OAS and CEP to prepare adequately for a vote that will hold extreme importance for the future of Haiti. However, the responsibility for the future of Haiti does not rest solely with a successful and peaceful election. Security personnel must ensure that criminal elements within Haiti are disarmed and reintegrated into a peaceful democratic community and that no one group feels unfairly targeted by UN peacekeepers. Maintaining the distinction of peacekeepers and unarmed combatants is essential for UN peacekeepers. The task of securing Haiti must be pursued with the utmost vigor. The upcoming year will undoubtedly decide the future of Haiti for many decades to come. The UN and the US must demonstrate a renewed commitment to securing the island nation and to making it safe for the development and preservation of democracy.