Brazil Is Leading a Largely South American Mission to Haiti

[struggle4progress]

By LARRY ROHTER
Published: August 1, 2004

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 31
<snip>

Brazil has a long tradition of taking part in United Nations peacekeeping forces, from Central America to East Timor. But the Haiti mission is "the first time that a U.N. force has been established with South American troops in a clear majority" and with South Americans leading the political and military sides of the operation, Brazil's defense minister, José Viegas, noted in an interview in Brasília.

The Brazilian government has already sent its promised contingent of 1,200 troops. Argentina, Chile and Uruguay have committed at least 500 soldiers each. Canada, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Spain are among the other countries that are taking part in the military operation, which is under the command of a Brazilian, Gen. Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira.

But in an effort to win over a population traditionally suspicious of foreigners, Brazil is not sending just troops. The national soccer team is scheduled to play an exhibition match in Port-au-Prince in mid-August against Haiti's squad, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has promised to attend.
<snip>

From the beginning, Brazil has been an outspoken critic of the American invasion and occupation of Iraq, and hopes to use Haiti "to establish its credibility as a mediator," said Hélio Jaguaribe, dean of the Institute of Political and Social Studies in Rio de Janeiro.
<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/international/americas/01braz.html

[bemildred]

1. This should be very interesting to watch.

It is a first in a number of ways, and it will tell a lot
about Brazil and Lula how and when elections are held, and
what is done about Aristide, and so on.

[struggle4progress]

2. How will election timing and the ultimate resolution of the Aristide ...

issue tell us anything about Brazil and Lula?

[bemildred]

3. Well, the question would be if their walk matches their talk,

when it comes to inter-American affairs, especially when it comes
to a disagreement with the US. Any fair election in Haiti will
restore Aristide to power. Since Brazil has no particular strategic
interest in Haiti, it is somewhat a test of adherence to principle
to see whether fair elections are held promptly.

[struggle4progress]

4. Wouldn't election timing be controlled by UN negotiations ...

... whatever Brazil's principles might be?

<edit:> ... or by LaTortue?

[bemildred]

5. Many people will have oars in the water.

CARICOM seems to have developed a considerable spine with
regard to this issue. I was interested in Brazil because I
am interested in Mr. Lula, as I said, and I feel it offers the
possibility of gaining better insight to his motives and
principles, and because it was the subject of the story.
I do expect that Brazil as the leader of the international
force will have a good deal to say about what happens and when,
but they will not be in a position to dictate, as you say.

Edit: LaTortue is a stooge, and he will retain power as long
as he has the guns to back it up, and not much longer. I was
trying to figure out if the name means "The Turtle", as in
"Tortugas Islands".

[struggle4progress]

6. I'd look to Annan's Special Adviser Dumas and ...

... and UN Special Representative Valdes, ahead of Lula, in the matter of elections; LaTortue has already claimed a successfully negotiated date:

Prime minister: Haitians will vote next year
U.S. announces new economic, security aid to nation
Tuesday, April 6, 2004 Posted: 5:43 AM EDT (0943 GMT)
... Latortue also said Haiti's political parties and civilian groups had agreed on the election timetable ...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/04/05/haiti.elections/


I'm under the impression that the US is applying real pressure to CARICOM to recognize Haiti, and that this pressure might produce splits in the organization. There's supposed to be a recent report from a CARICOM delegation to Haiti, on the matter of CARICOM recognition, but I haven't seen it.

[bemildred]

7. Time will tell.

I have no doubt at all that the US is applying pressure to
recognize the puppet government. The US installed it, after all.
All sorts of things might happen, that's why it's interesting.