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opinionAlso in this section:
Bernal, Where is Panama headed? Sánchez, Hispaniola as a major drug smuggling hub Hill, Free trade and immigration Gutman, Hugo Chávez is a disgrace Shelton, A better plan for the canal's expansion E. Jackson, Troubles at the alma mater Sirias, The price of perfection
The Greater Caribbean This Week Peace with poverty is not peace by Rubén Silié The inspiration for this article came to me from a news report by the AFP entitled “PEACE RETURNS TO CITÉ SOLEIL, BUT POVERTY PERSISTS.” The report gives an account of the fight against the armed gangs that held that poverty stricken area in Port au Prince, Haiti, hostage to violence. We have to first of all ask ourselves how those groups with such meagre resources were able to acquire weapons, to the extent that they managed to seize physical control of that area, preventing the National Police from gaining entry for a long time and keeping the blue helmets of the UN Mission (MINUSTAH) in check. It is a well known fact that the process of arming those groups is an age old practice encouraged by groups that hold power, who at some point in time understand that unscrupulous people can be used to create an atmosphere of general terror, or they can be used as a shock troop to intimidate political adversaries, or simply to carry out criminal activities. Such a practice has not been exclusive either to this era or to Haiti; it is rather an historic resource used by powerful players to gain control of new spaces. For example, during the 19th century, the expansion of military leaders in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic was driven by the large companies that wanted to acquire production zones or which sought to persuade governments so that they could receive tax exemptions. The procedure involved offering weapons to a gang that would support them and confront those who opposed them. Thus, more and more weapons fell into the hands of individuals or groups who would not have been able to gain access to such arsenals on their own strength. A similar situation has occurred with the conflicts in Afghanistan, or the case of the former associates of Bin Laden. In both cases there was a change in allies and those who helped to arm them regretted doing so. However, the serious and delicate aspect of the current situation in Haiti is that since the collapse of the Duvalier dictatorship (1986), the practice of arming gangs has been recurring in Haiti, and we know that once there is a shift from a chaotic environment to true institutional normalcy, a plan is announced to disarm the civil population. Nevertheless, such plans have emerged on several occasions and with varying results in each case. We are also certain that weapons are never removed entirely from the possession of those groups, with some always being left in the hands of those directly involved, thus leading to an increase in the number of weapons in civilian hands. Many of these individuals usually change their allegiance from one gang leader to another, while others take their own initiative What is striking about this entire situation is that the vast majority of the bullies who join gangs come from the most socially excluded areas, where poverty serves as fodder for such negative behavior. Usually, it involves young people who are frustrated over the impossibility of finding decent ways in which to insert themselves into a society that ends up excluding them. Therefore, reading the news report that peace has returned to Cité Soleil, yet poverty persists, we wonder how lasting this return to peace will be. In Haiti, there is a need to continue working toward so-called “positive peace,” which according to the formula of the Philosopher Spinoza, “is borne out of the strength of the soul, of harmony and justice.”1 Without a doubt, the situation of non-violence is imperative in order to commence community development efforts, but it does not mean that the confrontations have ceased, since the contradictions and conflicts that stem from poverty, such as exclusion and inequality, continue to await a response. In that sense, the peace that exists in Cité Soleil is a peace that is still limited. The political success enjoyed by the Haitian Government with support from the MINUSTAH, requires a boost from the international community. It is an excellent opportunity to bring to fruition the assistance offered, since there is no doubt that the young people, from whom weapons have been seized or who have simply relinquished them, would be potential candidates to take them up again, if new levels of social insertion are not achieved in a timely fashion.
1. Federico Mayor,”Un Mundo Nuevo”. Ediciones UNESCO. 2001 Dr. Rubén Silié Valdez is the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States. The opinions expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Comments and reactions can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org
Also in this section:
Bernal, Where is Panama headed? Sánchez, Hispaniola as a major drug smuggling hub Hill, Free trade and immigration Gutman, Hugo Chávez is a disgrace Shelton, A better plan for the canal's expansion E. Jackson, Troubles at the alma mater Sirias, The price of perfection Unclassified Ads | Calendar | Outdoors | Dining | Science | Sports | Español | Front Page Archives | Wappin' Radio Show | Just Music
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