PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Hundreds of former and would-be soldiers in Haiti refused government orders to disband and marched through the capital on Friday, many in mismatched uniforms. A United Nations spokesman said 40 to 50 of them were arrested.
U.N. spokeswoman Eliana Nabaa said they were arrested by Haitian police because they were carrying illegal weapons and acting as if they were part of the disbanded military.
A police spokesman couldn’t be reached immediately for comment late Friday.
The ex-soldiers and their young recruits have been pressing President Michel Martelly to honor his campaign goal of restoring the armed forces, which was abolished in 1995 because of its abusive record.
Martelly has said he wants to revive the military but that it must be done legally. His administration has repeatedly called for the lightly armed men to drop their weapons and clear out of 10 bases they’ve taken over since February. But the government has taken little action to disband the group of men who’ve been parading about Haiti.
The march on Friday was mostly peaceful but some people near the National Palace threw rocks at U.N. troops, who responded by firing tear gas. A few of the men in military uniforms carried handguns.
Podiab ce grangou yo grangou oui, yo pap bringcharge agains them, yo bat biuda yo tout parfois yo pa tandew, ce pou yo kimber pou 15 jou at least, respecter mot dodre on president
A national police officer runs toward a former army base to take a position during clashes between police and members of the dissolved army in Port-au-Prince.
Members of the dissolved army march past a U.N. armored vehicle in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, May 18.
Members of the dissolved army march through Port-au-Prince.
Members of the dissolved army performance a voodoo ceremony before starting their march through Port-au-Prince.
People pray for U.N. peacekeepers to stop surrounding the presidential palace which they encircled in response to a march by former members of the dissolved army.
Members of Haiti's dissolved army stand behind bars at a national police station after being arrested during a march in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, May 18, 2012. Former and would-be soldiers refused government orders to disband and marched through the capital on Friday. The ex-soldiers and their young recruits have been pressing President Michel Martelly to honor his campaign goal of restoring the armed forces, which was abolished in 1995 because of its abusive record.
I just don't understand why Martelly don't just order the PNH and UN to go in retake those base by force and either arrest or kill those fake soldiers.
Le.Veritable.Testament.1804 - 20 May 2012 12:22 AM
I just don't understand why Martelly don't just order the PNH and UN to go in retake those base by force and either arrest or kill those fake soldiers.
haiti needs to get out of that cycle of violence, so i wouldnt say kill them. however, i believe the older former remnant of the army should be arrested and prosecuted for their actions.
but in actuality, we all know this is not haitians taking action into their own hands. we will find out years from now that there's a greater force behind that puppet.
Haiti gov't charges 2 Americans in jail with conspiracy
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A Haitian official says two jailed Americans have been charged with conspiracy.
Secretary of State for Public Security Reginald Delva said Sunday that Jason William "Zeke" Petrie and Steven Parker Shaw were charged because of their involvement in a street march last week.
The two were drivers for a group of ex-soldiers and their young followers who demonstrated in Haiti's capital Friday for the army's return.
Two other Americans and a Canadian were held for questioning for 24 hours in the lobby of a police station because they tried to bring medicine to Petrie. They were released late Saturday.
The Haitian police have since closed two of the old military bases that the leaders of the group had used as training camps.
[size=4]Haiti gov't charges 2 Americans in jail with conspiracy
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A Haitian official says two jailed Americans have been charged with conspiracy.
Secretary of State for Public Security Reginald Delva said Sunday that Jason William "Zeke" Petrie and Steven Parker Shaw were charged because of their involvement in a street march last week.
The two were drivers for a group of ex-soldiers and their young followers who demonstrated in Haiti's capital Friday for the army's return.
Two other Americans and a Canadian were held for questioning for 24 hours in the lobby of a police station because they tried to bring medicine to Petrie. They were released late Saturday.
The Haitian police have since closed two of the old military bases that the leaders of the group had used as training camps.
Why am I not surprised? In an OCCUPIED country on LIFE SUPPORT and EBT FUNDs, NOTHING HAPPENS IN HAITI WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE HIGHER POWERS.
This is what I call FABRICATED SOCIAL DISORDER to give the illusion that Haiti is "independent" and are doing this of their own free will and supposedly we are "keeping the country
back" when the HIGHER POWERS have always had the purse strings.
YOU WANT TO EAT, DO WHAT THE F** WE SAY! Martelly and his homeboys ain't gonna help you eat. We decide when you eat or IF you eat. Diaspora ain't gonna save you.
All the rice and food imports comes from us, remember? IF you dare RESIST, you might find your price of food going up or "accidently infected". End of story.
Podiab ce grangou yo grangou oui, yo pap bringcharge agains them, yo bat biuda yo tout parfois yo pa tandew, ce pou yo kimber pou 15 jou at least, respecter mot dodre on president
Kijan yo fè grangou-a? Mateli te sispann voye manje ba yo?
