05 April 2005

The security situation in Haiti deteriorated during late March, with a series of violent incidents occurring despite the presence of 7,400 UN troops. The incidents have included attacks on the Provisional Electoral Commission and the UN headquarters, and an ambush on a police car in which three died.

There have been frequent assassinations and assassination attempts on prominent citizens. Violence has disrupted life across the entire metropolitan area. Kidnapping, rape and theft, particularly car theft, are reportedly on the rise. Humanitarian organisations have been forced to restrict their operations. On 29 March, USAID projects and other international aid agencies were forced to close their doors and send staff and personnel home as a measure of precaution.

Meanwhile, reform of the criminal justice system has never got off the ground. High-profile cases have ground to a halt. It is clear to everyone that the law is not being enforced. This has led to increasing anger and frustration in all sectors of Haitian society.

With elections planned for October this year, immediate action is needed to improve security and restore the rule of law. The beginning of the electoral registration process on April 1st renders more effective security measures all the more urgent.

ActionAid calls on MINUSTAH, the Brazilian-led UN mission in Haiti:

• to launch an effective disarmament programme
• to work in partnership with civil society on security issues
• to provide a training and support programme for the Haiti National Police

ActionAid calls on the interim national government to establish an effective criminal justice system and to end the reign of impunity.

To ensure that none of these measures fails through lack of resources, ActionAid calls on donor countries to fulfil their commitments to aid Haiti’s reconstruction.

Adriano Campolino Soares, ActionAid’s regional director for the Americas said: "Without real reform of the judiciary, meaningful support to the HNP, credible dialogue between state, political and civil society actors, as well as effective disarmament of all armed groups without discrimination, Haiti's reconstruction cannot begin."

These were some of the many violent incidents of March 2005:

23 March: Gunmen opened fire at the house of the justice minister, Bernard Gousse, killing a police officer.

24 March: Shots were fired in Cité du Soleil at a rally calling for the return of ex-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. At least one man was killed.

25 March: A grenade exploded outside the main gate of the Provisional Electoral Commission offices in Port-au-Prince.

28 March: Gunmen with assault rifles ambushed a group of police in the capital, killing two police officers and a driver. The car was then burned with the bodies still inside. There were no survivors.

31 March: The UN' s new headquarters was attacked. According to reports, a Filipino soldier guarding the building escaped injury after shots hit him in his helmet and protective vest.