While the Haitian government is trying to find a peaceful solution to the situation of individuals [estimated between 2.000 and 3.000] illegally occupying the former military bases, and some public buildings and that continue to openly defy the state, by circulating more often in the streets, in fatiguesnd often heavily armed ; a group of "former FAd'H", launched an ultimatum to the Head of State, whose deadline is May 18, to try to force the President Martelly, to fulfill its promises to re-establish the army.

At a recent press conference, Larose Aubin, a former army sergeant had declared "We're not joking around [...] We're going to come with force and with the population, and we will get what we're looking for. Even if we lose our lives, we will fight. They can't kill us all."

In this crisis, the Minustah is perceived by a large portion of the population, as an occupying force and aspires to have its own army. A Minustah who is considering all scenarios, including the use of force, a high risk option as noted historian Georges Michel, Member of the State Commission for Organization of the military component of the Public Force created by the President Martelly "[...] the rebel soldiers are more popular than the UN peacekeepers [...] the people are with them [...] This would be a major catastrophe for President Martelly if he calls upon Minustah to crack down on them. They will be seen as heroes and Martelly as the villain. So a peaceful and political solution must be found."

Minustah analysis suggests that the group is not very well armed. However, when asked if his group had access to sufficient weaponry, Yves Jeudy, a former sergeant of former FAd'H responded "We're military [...] And you know what a military can do [...] After 18 May, if the government hasn't done anything, they will see what happens. We're not going back and they need to give us an answer quick. We're running out of patience," while the men chanted "freedom or death..."

The payment of salary arrears to the former military FAd'H by the Government, does not seem to defuse the crisis or calm the mind and the situation remains highly volatile. Whatever the number of these determined individuals, who seem to want to go all the way to enforce what they call "their rights", the country really does not need a confrontation, under the eyes of the world, at a time when all efforts are made ​​to change the image of our country and convince investors that Haiti is open for business.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5484-haiti-security-compensation-process-of-former-fad-h-ongoing.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5443-haiti-security-the-ministry-of-interior-condemned-the-actions-of-individuals-in-military-fatigues.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5428-haiti-security-a-hundred-men-in-fatigues-and-armed-before-the-parliament.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-5313-haiti-securite-rapport-preliminaire-de-la-commission-d-etat-d-organisation-de-la-composante-militaire-de-la-force-publique.html (in french)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5238-haiti-security-180-degree-turn-of-the-position-of-minister-of-justice-on-the-former-fad-h.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5232-haiti-security-towards-a-peaceful-solution-or-a-clash.html

HL/ HaitiLibre