Dozens of Haitian
ex-soldiers have been arrested after a series of protests calling for the
disbanded army to be restored, officials say.
They were charged
with forming a rogue army and violating orders to take off their uniforms and
give up their weapons, Reuters reported. Dozens of Haitian ex-soldiers have
been arrested after a series of protests calling for the disbanded army to be
restored, officials say.
They were charged
with forming a rogue army and violating orders to take off their uniforms and
give up their weapons.
Several alleged
supporters, including two Americans, were also detained.
The protesters
want President Michel Martelly to keep his promise to revive the army, which
was dismantled in 1995.
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| President Michel Martelly |
Several thousand
ex-soldiers demonstrated on Friday and Saturday to call for the return of the
armed forces.
On Sunday, the
authorities announced that 59 people had been arrested, according to Reuters.
Among them were
two US citizens, Jason William Petrie from Ohio and Steven Parker Shaw from
Massachusetts, who were accused of providing logistical support for the
protesters, officials said.
Mr Petrie told the
Associated Press from jail that he was friends with the leaders of the would-be
soldiers.
Instability
In recent weeks,
former troops have been training and have occupied former military bases.
They have been
wearing military-style uniforms and carrying weapons.
President Martelly
supports the idea of reviving the army, arguing that Haitians would prefer to
be protected by their own forces rather than the current UN peacekeepers.
The UN and
international donors have expressed concern that such a move could damage
efforts to set up a new civilian police force.
The Haitian army
was long associated with human rights abuses and coups.
It was abolished
in 1995 by then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had been overthrown in
1991 and returned to power three years later.
But political
turmoil continued in the ensuing years and since 2004 the UN's stabilisation
mission, Minustah, has operated in the country.
Several alleged
supporters, including two Americans, were also detained.
The protesters
want President Michel Martelly to keep his promise to revive the army, which
was dismantled in 1995.
Several thousand
ex-soldiers demonstrated on Friday and Saturday to call for the return of the
armed forces.
On Sunday, the
authorities announced that 59 people had been arrested, according to Reuters.
Among them were
two US citizens, Jason William Petrie from Ohio and Steven Parker Shaw from
Massachusetts, who were accused of providing logistical support for the
protesters, officials said.
Mr Petrie told the
Associated Press from jail that he was friends with the leaders of the would-be
soldiers.
Instability
In recent weeks,
former troops have been training and have occupied former military bases.
They have been
wearing military-style uniforms and carrying weapons.
President Martelly
supports the idea of reviving the army, arguing that Haitians would prefer to
be protected by their own forces rather than the current UN peacekeepers.
The UN and
international donors have expressed concern that such a move could damage
efforts to set up a new civilian police force.
The Haitian army
was long associated with human rights abuses and coups.
It was abolished
in 1995 by then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had been overthrown in
1991 and returned to power three years later.
But political
turmoil continued in the ensuing years and since 2004 the UN's stabilisation
mission, Minustah, has operated in the country.