EvanL
02-26-2004, 01:55 PM
Nine specialists join five planners monitoring rebellion
Mike Blanchfield and Sue Montgomery
The Ottawa Citizen; Montreal Gazette
Thursday, February 26, 2004
OTTAWA -- The Armed Forces sent nine elite paratroopers to Haiti on Wednesday to protect Canadian diplomats and civilians as a rebel advance closed in on the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The nine paratroopers, believed to be from the Joint Task Force 2, joined five military planners from the Canadian Forces who arrived Tuesday to assist in the possible removal of more than 1,000 Canadians in the embattled country where a rebellion threatens to topple President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Looting broke out in Port-au-Prince as Aristide loyalists erected defensive barricades.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin issued a statement Wednesday calling for an "immediate" international civilian force to restore calm to Haiti.
France also called for human rights observers and more long-term international aid to assist Haiti in dealing with its economic and social problems.
"The international community must assume its responsibilities in order to preserve this country from disorder and violence," de Villepin said.
But after discussions involving U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Canadian, French and Caribbean officials Wednesday it was agreed that no additional troops would be sent unless the rebel forces and Aristide agreed to work toward political solution.
As the security situation continued to disintegrate, foreign affairs asked the defence department for extra troops to provide security and assist in a possible removal of Canadians diplomats and civilians.
"Our officials examined the needs of our embassy," said Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham. "They have said this is what is needed."
In addition, hundreds of other Canadian troops are on standby in case a full-scale evacuation needs to be mounted.
"As Canadians, we are putting in place measures to keep in contact with our nationals there that need help getting out," Graham explained. "We have withdrawn our own non-essential personnel."
The additional Canadian Forces troops and aircraft on standby include about 100 members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, N.B., members of the Kingston-based Joint Operations Group and two Hercules aircraft based at CFB Trenton, Ont., said Major Mike Audette.
Canada closed its embassy in Port-Au-Prince on Wednesday and officials negotiated burning barricades and fanatical Aristide supporters firing weapons to move its operations up the hill to the ambassador's residence, while a five-member team assessed what to do next.
"I think at the moment it's fair to say that anyone associated with the international community is vulnerable to being considered part of the problem, if we are not prepared to come in and stop the insurgents from entering the capital or from operating at all," Ambassador Kenneth Cook said in an interview on the lawn of his home.
He said there are approximately 1,500 Canadians in the country, 1,000 of whom are of Haitian origin. Many are missionaries, aid workers and journalists.
The Canadian embassy has already sent non-essential workers and their families, including Cook's wife, Jane, out of the country.
"We hope that most Canadians who intend to leave, who don't intend to just hunker down, have already left," Cook said, adding that Air Transat, which had previously suspended it's flights, sent in a plane Wednesday to get people out.
"There hasn't been any massive exodus of Canadians, but people who don't have roots here have for the most part left."
The atmosphere was tense in the capital of 2.5 million people, as roadblocks set up by heavily armed supporters of Aristide blocked practically every road into the downtown core. Rebels, who control most of the northern part of the Caribbean country, are said to be on their way here.
Unlike in the rest of the country, where poorly armed police officers fled or went into hiding as soon as the rebels entered cities like Hinch, Cap Haitian, and Gonaives, observers predict they will face a more difficult fight in the capital.
"It won't be a cakewalk," said David Lee, as OAS official in Haiti.
He said the relatively small number of insurgents would face a larger police force here as well as Aristide supporters who say they are willing to fight to the death. Aristide has pleaded with the population to defend themselves, but to remain non-violent.
"Much will depend here on just how many of Aristide's supporters are willing to fight and put up real resistance," Cook said. "I think Port au Prince is a very different situation from the countryside where the police abandoned their posts before these people came.
"They did not have any possible chance of defending themselves against that kind of force and they did what most sensible people would do."
© The Vancouver Sun 2004
Mike Blanchfield and Sue Montgomery
The Ottawa Citizen; Montreal Gazette
Thursday, February 26, 2004
OTTAWA -- The Armed Forces sent nine elite paratroopers to Haiti on Wednesday to protect Canadian diplomats and civilians as a rebel advance closed in on the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The nine paratroopers, believed to be from the Joint Task Force 2, joined five military planners from the Canadian Forces who arrived Tuesday to assist in the possible removal of more than 1,000 Canadians in the embattled country where a rebellion threatens to topple President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Looting broke out in Port-au-Prince as Aristide loyalists erected defensive barricades.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin issued a statement Wednesday calling for an "immediate" international civilian force to restore calm to Haiti.
France also called for human rights observers and more long-term international aid to assist Haiti in dealing with its economic and social problems.
"The international community must assume its responsibilities in order to preserve this country from disorder and violence," de Villepin said.
But after discussions involving U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Canadian, French and Caribbean officials Wednesday it was agreed that no additional troops would be sent unless the rebel forces and Aristide agreed to work toward political solution.
As the security situation continued to disintegrate, foreign affairs asked the defence department for extra troops to provide security and assist in a possible removal of Canadians diplomats and civilians.
"Our officials examined the needs of our embassy," said Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham. "They have said this is what is needed."
In addition, hundreds of other Canadian troops are on standby in case a full-scale evacuation needs to be mounted.
"As Canadians, we are putting in place measures to keep in contact with our nationals there that need help getting out," Graham explained. "We have withdrawn our own non-essential personnel."
The additional Canadian Forces troops and aircraft on standby include about 100 members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, N.B., members of the Kingston-based Joint Operations Group and two Hercules aircraft based at CFB Trenton, Ont., said Major Mike Audette.
Canada closed its embassy in Port-Au-Prince on Wednesday and officials negotiated burning barricades and fanatical Aristide supporters firing weapons to move its operations up the hill to the ambassador's residence, while a five-member team assessed what to do next.
"I think at the moment it's fair to say that anyone associated with the international community is vulnerable to being considered part of the problem, if we are not prepared to come in and stop the insurgents from entering the capital or from operating at all," Ambassador Kenneth Cook said in an interview on the lawn of his home.
He said there are approximately 1,500 Canadians in the country, 1,000 of whom are of Haitian origin. Many are missionaries, aid workers and journalists.
The Canadian embassy has already sent non-essential workers and their families, including Cook's wife, Jane, out of the country.
"We hope that most Canadians who intend to leave, who don't intend to just hunker down, have already left," Cook said, adding that Air Transat, which had previously suspended it's flights, sent in a plane Wednesday to get people out.
"There hasn't been any massive exodus of Canadians, but people who don't have roots here have for the most part left."
The atmosphere was tense in the capital of 2.5 million people, as roadblocks set up by heavily armed supporters of Aristide blocked practically every road into the downtown core. Rebels, who control most of the northern part of the Caribbean country, are said to be on their way here.
Unlike in the rest of the country, where poorly armed police officers fled or went into hiding as soon as the rebels entered cities like Hinch, Cap Haitian, and Gonaives, observers predict they will face a more difficult fight in the capital.
"It won't be a cakewalk," said David Lee, as OAS official in Haiti.
He said the relatively small number of insurgents would face a larger police force here as well as Aristide supporters who say they are willing to fight to the death. Aristide has pleaded with the population to defend themselves, but to remain non-violent.
"Much will depend here on just how many of Aristide's supporters are willing to fight and put up real resistance," Cook said. "I think Port au Prince is a very different situation from the countryside where the police abandoned their posts before these people came.
"They did not have any possible chance of defending themselves against that kind of force and they did what most sensible people would do."
© The Vancouver Sun 2004