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CHANGING MISSIONS IN HAITI.

Article Excerpt
With the memory of the failed UN peacekeeping mission of the 1990s looming like the black clouds that have dumped flood and death on Haiti in past days, the UN flag was hoisted up a parade-ground flagpole and a new mission began with the invocation, "The stakes are high; this time lets get it right."

And with the memory of an elected government sent packing in February still fresh, a US-installed prime minister whose government is recognized nowhere in the Caribbean told Haitians to "seize this opportunity" to foster democracy (see NotiCen, 2004-03-18, 2004-04-01).

Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue also asked the UN's help in disarming gangs and former soldiers so that elections scheduled for next year can go off with a minimum of violence and with some hope of ending the string of coups--more than 30--that have punctuated the nation's 200-year history.

Heartfelt though it all may have been, the ceremony marking the changeover from US-led occupation to UN mission was something of a sham. The 1,900 US troops, the main contingent of the multinational force holding the country together, is not going anywhere. It will remain for about a month, and most of the...

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