A polarizing force, Haiti's former soldiers return to streets
A polarizing force, Haiti's former soldiers return to streets
Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:48pm EST
PORT-AU-PRINCE | By Joseph Guyler Delva
Haiti disbanded its abusive armed forces two decades ago but uniformed veterans and young recruits are resurfacing to add another destabilizing factor to the volatile Caribbean nation already dealing with a political vacuum.
Botched elections have left Haiti without a president and fractious political groups are seeking to choose an interim leader in coming days to oversee a fresh vote, against a backdrop of almost daily protests that often turn violent.
Last week, groups of men dressed in military green took to the capital Port-au-Prince in convoys, waving old weapons and sparking rage among anti-government protesters who beat to death one of the veterans.
After a series of military coups, the armed forces (FADH) were disbanded in 1995, but President Michel Martelly last year decreed they should be rebuilt, giving hope to ageing former soldiers.
More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-haiti-military-idUSKCN0VM0X2?rpc=401
