Os haitianos têm boas razões para
desconfiar dos estrangeiros que afirmam
atuar em nome de seus interesses.
No século XIX, a França, antiga potência
imperial, gentilmente ofereceu que os
bancos parisienses financiassem as
reparações que o Haiti exigia em troca
de reconhecimento da independência
do país. A dívida resultante drenou o
tesouro nacional do Haiti durante décadas.
Um século mais tarde, os Estados Unidos
generosamente aumentaram a infraestrutura
do país usando trabalho quase escravo
durante uma ocupação militar brutal.
Hoje, os estrangeiros benfeitores no Haiti
são os 9 mil membros da Minustah, a força
de paz da ONU. Eles certamente têm
intenções melhores do que as dos intrusos
do passado. Mas o governo haitiano tem
uma influência um pouco maior sobre eles
do que teve sobre os fuzileiros dos Estados
Unidos. E nos últimos anos, a força tem
causado um grande dano. Seus soldados
foram acusados de disseminar uma epidemia
de cólera que já matou 7 mil pessoas, e
têm sido acusados de inúmeros casos de
estupro e agressão sexual. Seus erros estão
levando a pedidos cada vez mais estridentes
para que haja uma maior responsabilização
pelas forças de paz.
O mais recente problema nas relações públicas
foi lançado no dia 21 de abril no Festival de
Cinema de Tribeca, em Nova York. Baseball
nos Tempos da Cólera, dirigido por dois
trabalhadores estrangeiros que vivem no Haiti,
entrelaça as histórias de um atleta adolescente
que perde a mãe para a cólera e dos advogados
que estão processando a ONU por negligência
numa base de manutenção de paz de forças
do Nepal. O filme apresenta uma abundância
de imagens de noticiários da base, incluindo
tubos de esgoto que deságuam em um afluente
do maior rio do Haiti. Os primeiros casos de
cólera apareceram perto da base, e a bactéria –
originária do sul da Ásia – rapidamente se
espalhou ao longo do rio e de sua rede de
canais, que os haitianos usam para tomar
banho, beber, irrigar plantações e lavar roupas.
Desde o início da epidemia, a ONU tentou
desviar as acusações de responsabilidade,
afirmando que a origem da doença é
desconhecida ou sem importância. Mas uma
série de estudos epidemiológicos e de genoma,
não deixam dúvidas quanto ao papel da Minustah
na proliferação da doença. Até mesmo Bill
Clinton, emissário especial da ONU para o
Haiti, reconheceu. ”Foi a causa imediata da
cólera”, disse ele no mês passado. ”Isso
significa que um soldado da Minustah
carregava a cólera. A doença foi de seu fluxo
de resíduos para as redes de águas do Haiti,
e de lá para os corpos dos haitianos”.
Citando evidências científicas, os advogados
presentes no filme apresentaram 5 mil queixas
ao escritório da Minustah em nome das vítimas
de cólera, que buscam pelo menos US$ 250 milhões
em reparações. O departamento de manutenção
da paz da ONU diz que está estudando as
reivindicações. Até agora, o escritório no Haiti
tem lidado com questões menores, tais como danos à propriedade.
O acordo da Minustah com o governo afirma
que as disputas maiores devem ser tratadas
por um tribunal especial. Até agora, porém,
nenhum foi criado. Como a força e seus
soldados gozam de imunidade dos tribunais
locais – algo que a maioria dos países exige
antes de oferecer soldados para as Nações
Unidas – as vítimas da cólera não têm nenhum
outro recurso formal. Como resultado, seus
advogados estão ameaçando desafiar a
imunidade da Minustah nos tribunais haitianos
se a ONU não atender às suas reivindicações.
Isso poderia afetar operações de paz em todo
o mundo.
A reputação da Minustah foi ainda mais
manchada por acusações de abuso sexual.
Dois soldados paquistaneses foram acusados
de estuprar um garoto de 14 anos, e um grupo
de soldados uruguaios supostamente abusou
sexualmente de um menino de 18 anos e
filmou o incidente. O sistema de justiça
tem trabalhado um pouco melhor nesses
casos – um tribunal militar paquistanês
montado no Haiti condenou seus soldados no
mês passado, e os uruguaios devem enfrentar
o julgamento em seu país de origem. Mas os
paquistaneses foram condenados a apenas um
ano na prisão. Uma canção popular no Carnaval
haitiano deste ano incluiu um verso alertando
jovens perto das tropas de paz para proteger
suas partes traseiras.
Ao mesmo tempo em que estão ultrajados pelo
comportamento da Minustah, os haitianos têm
se tornado cada vez mais duvidosos dos
benefícios que ela proporciona. A ONU
originalmente implantou a força em 2004,
para estabilizar o país durante o conflito
civil que se seguiu à expulsão de Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, um ex-padre populista, da Presidência.
Não houve nenhum conflito armado sério no
Haiti desde 2006 – o que pode ser tomado como
prova, seja da eficácia da Minustah, seja de
sua irrelevância. Mesmo que as tropas não
contribuam para a segurança, os críticos da
força notam que um único ano do seu orçamento
de US$ 800 milhões pode ser suficiente para
renovar a decrépita infraestrutura de água
do país. Isso poderia muito bem ter evitado
a propagação do cólera.
O legado da Minustah no Haiti está ficando um
pouco mais leve. Supondo-se que 1.600 soldados
deixem o país até junho, como previsto, a força
será reduzida para 7,4 mil, aproximadamente o
mesmo número de antes do terremoto do Haiti
em janeiro de 2010. Mas novas reduções são
improváveis tendo em vista o tumulto político
durante o primeiro ano da presidência de Michel
Martelly, um ex-músico. Em fevereiro, seu
primeiro-ministro, Gary Conille, se ofereceu
para renunciar depois de apenas quatro meses
no cargo, que ele passou, em grande parte,
investigando corrupção. Há pouco que Martelly
possa fazer, até que um sucessor seja confirmado.
Em 17 de abril, 50 membros de uma força
paramilitar, alegando representar uma milícia
voluntária que tem ocupado um quartel do
Exército abandonado, interromperam uma
sessão do parlamento, enquanto presidente
estava no exterior, se recuperando de uma
embolia. O governo não está em posição de
ditar condições. Somente a ONU pode restaurar
a legitimidade da Minustah.
HAITI
Foreign forces should be held accountable
Foreign forces should be held accountable
Haitians have good reason to
wary of strangers who claim
act on behalf of their interests.
In the nineteenth century France, the former power
Imperial, kindly offered the
Parisian banks from financing the
reparations demanded that Haiti in exchange
recognition of independence
the country. The resulting debt drained the
Haiti's national treasure for decades.
A century later, the United States
generously increased infrastructure
the country using almost slave labor
during a brutal military occupation.
Today, foreign benefactors in Haiti
9000 are members of MINUSTAH, the force
UN peacekeeping. They certainly have
intention of better than those intruders
the past. But the Haitian government has
a slightly greater influence on them
than it had on the States Marines
United. And in the last years, the force has
caused great damage. His soldiers
were accused of spreading an epidemic
cholera that has killed 7,000 people and
have been accused of numerous cases of
rape and sexual assault. His errors are
requests leading to increasingly urgent
so there is greater accountability
by peacekeepers.
The latest public relations problem
was launched on April 21 at the Festival of
Tribeca Cinema in New York. Baseball
in the Time of Cholera, directed by two
foreign workers who live in Haiti,
interweaves the stories of a teenage athlete
who loses her mother to anger and lawyers
suing the UN for negligence
basis of peacekeeping forces
Nepal. The film features plenty
news footage of the base, including
sewer pipes that drain into a tributary
the longest river in Haiti. The first cases of
Cholera appeared near the base, and bacteria -
originating in South Asia - quickly
spread along the river and its network of
channels, which Haitians use to make
bathing, drinking, washing and irrigating crops.
Since the epidemic began, the UN tried to
deflect accusations of responsibility,
stating that the origin of the disease is
unknown or unimportant. But a
series of epidemiological studies and genome
leave no doubt as to the role of MINUSTAH
proliferation of the disease. Even Bill
Clinton, UN special envoy for
Haiti, acknowledged. "It was the immediate cause of
cholera, "he said last month. "This
means that a MINUSTAH soldier
carrying cholera. The disease was its flow
for waste water networks in Haiti
and from there to the bodies of Haitians. "
Citing scientific evidence, the lawyers
in the film were 5000 complaints
the office of MINUSTAH on behalf of victims
cholera, seeking at least $ 250 million
in repairs. The maintenance department
UN peacekeepers say they are studying the
claims. So far, the office in Haiti
has dealt with minor issues such as property damage.
MINUSTAH's agreement with government says
that disputes should be handled more
by a special court. Until now, however,
none was created. Since the strength and its
soldiers enjoy immunity from court
locations - something that most countries require
before offering troops to the United
Nations - cholera victims have no
other formal action. As a result, their
lawyers are threatening to challenge the
MINUSTAH immunity in Haitian courts
if the UN does not meet your demands.
This could affect peace operations around
the world.
MINUSTAH's reputation was further
tarnished by accusations of sexual abuse.
Two Pakistani soldiers were accused
of raping a 14 year old boy, and a group
Uruguayan soldiers allegedly abused
sexually a child of 18 years and
filmed the incident. The justice system
has worked a little better in these
cases - a Pakistani military tribunal
mounted in Haiti condemned its soldiers in
last month, and the Uruguayans must face
the trial in their country of origin. But
Pakistanis were sentenced to only one
years in prison. A popular song at the Carnival
Haiti this year included a verse warning
young people near the peacekeepers to protect
their backs.
At the same time they are insulted by
behavior of MINUSTAH, the Haitians have
become increasingly doubtful of
benefits it provides. The United Nations
Originally deployed force in 2004,
to stabilize the country during the conflict
calendar that followed the expulsion of Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, a populist former priest of the Presidency.
There were no serious armed conflict in
Haiti since 2006 - which can be taken as
test, the effectiveness is MINUSTAH, either
irrelevance. Even if the troops do not
contribute to the security, critics of
note that under a single year's budget
$ 800 million may be sufficient to
renovate the decrepit water infrastructure
the country. This could very well have prevented
the spread of cholera.
The legacy of MINUSTAH in Haiti is becoming a
slightly lighter. Assuming 1600 soldiers
leave the country until June, as planned, the strength
is reduced to 7400, approximately
same number as before the earthquake of Haiti
in January 2010. But further reductions are
unlikely given the political turmoil
during the first year of the presidency of Michel
Martelly, a former musician. In February, his
Prime Minister, Gary Conille, offered
to resign after only four months
in office, he spent a large part
investigating corruption. There is little that Martelly
can do, until a successor is confirmed.
On 17 April, 50 members of a force
paramilitary militia claiming to represent a
volunteer who has occupied a quarter of
Army abandoned, interrupted a
session of parliament, while President
was abroad, recovering from a
embolism. The government is not in a position to
conditions dictate. Only the UN can restoring
the legitimacy of MINUSTAH.
wary of strangers who claim
act on behalf of their interests.
In the nineteenth century France, the former power
Imperial, kindly offered the
Parisian banks from financing the
reparations demanded that Haiti in exchange
recognition of independence
the country. The resulting debt drained the
Haiti's national treasure for decades.
A century later, the United States
generously increased infrastructure
the country using almost slave labor
during a brutal military occupation.
Today, foreign benefactors in Haiti
9000 are members of MINUSTAH, the force
UN peacekeeping. They certainly have
intention of better than those intruders
the past. But the Haitian government has
a slightly greater influence on them
than it had on the States Marines
United. And in the last years, the force has
caused great damage. His soldiers
were accused of spreading an epidemic
cholera that has killed 7,000 people and
have been accused of numerous cases of
rape and sexual assault. His errors are
requests leading to increasingly urgent
so there is greater accountability
by peacekeepers.
The latest public relations problem
was launched on April 21 at the Festival of
Tribeca Cinema in New York. Baseball
in the Time of Cholera, directed by two
foreign workers who live in Haiti,
interweaves the stories of a teenage athlete
who loses her mother to anger and lawyers
suing the UN for negligence
basis of peacekeeping forces
Nepal. The film features plenty
news footage of the base, including
sewer pipes that drain into a tributary
the longest river in Haiti. The first cases of
Cholera appeared near the base, and bacteria -
originating in South Asia - quickly
spread along the river and its network of
channels, which Haitians use to make
bathing, drinking, washing and irrigating crops.
Since the epidemic began, the UN tried to
deflect accusations of responsibility,
stating that the origin of the disease is
unknown or unimportant. But a
series of epidemiological studies and genome
leave no doubt as to the role of MINUSTAH
proliferation of the disease. Even Bill
Clinton, UN special envoy for
Haiti, acknowledged. "It was the immediate cause of
cholera, "he said last month. "This
means that a MINUSTAH soldier
carrying cholera. The disease was its flow
for waste water networks in Haiti
and from there to the bodies of Haitians. "
Citing scientific evidence, the lawyers
in the film were 5000 complaints
the office of MINUSTAH on behalf of victims
cholera, seeking at least $ 250 million
in repairs. The maintenance department
UN peacekeepers say they are studying the
claims. So far, the office in Haiti
has dealt with minor issues such as property damage.
MINUSTAH's agreement with government says
that disputes should be handled more
by a special court. Until now, however,
none was created. Since the strength and its
soldiers enjoy immunity from court
locations - something that most countries require
before offering troops to the United
Nations - cholera victims have no
other formal action. As a result, their
lawyers are threatening to challenge the
MINUSTAH immunity in Haitian courts
if the UN does not meet your demands.
This could affect peace operations around
the world.
MINUSTAH's reputation was further
tarnished by accusations of sexual abuse.
Two Pakistani soldiers were accused
of raping a 14 year old boy, and a group
Uruguayan soldiers allegedly abused
sexually a child of 18 years and
filmed the incident. The justice system
has worked a little better in these
cases - a Pakistani military tribunal
mounted in Haiti condemned its soldiers in
last month, and the Uruguayans must face
the trial in their country of origin. But
Pakistanis were sentenced to only one
years in prison. A popular song at the Carnival
Haiti this year included a verse warning
young people near the peacekeepers to protect
their backs.
At the same time they are insulted by
behavior of MINUSTAH, the Haitians have
become increasingly doubtful of
benefits it provides. The United Nations
Originally deployed force in 2004,
to stabilize the country during the conflict
calendar that followed the expulsion of Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, a populist former priest of the Presidency.
There were no serious armed conflict in
Haiti since 2006 - which can be taken as
test, the effectiveness is MINUSTAH, either
irrelevance. Even if the troops do not
contribute to the security, critics of
note that under a single year's budget
$ 800 million may be sufficient to
renovate the decrepit water infrastructure
the country. This could very well have prevented
the spread of cholera.
The legacy of MINUSTAH in Haiti is becoming a
slightly lighter. Assuming 1600 soldiers
leave the country until June, as planned, the strength
is reduced to 7400, approximately
same number as before the earthquake of Haiti
in January 2010. But further reductions are
unlikely given the political turmoil
during the first year of the presidency of Michel
Martelly, a former musician. In February, his
Prime Minister, Gary Conille, offered
to resign after only four months
in office, he spent a large part
investigating corruption. There is little that Martelly
can do, until a successor is confirmed.
On 17 April, 50 members of a force
paramilitary militia claiming to represent a
volunteer who has occupied a quarter of
Army abandoned, interrupted a
session of parliament, while President
was abroad, recovering from a
embolism. The government is not in a position to
conditions dictate. Only the UN can restoring
the legitimacy of MINUSTAH.
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