Notes from Haiti

The people of Cite Soleil are tired of violence, as I have written before, and want peace, reconciliation with the Haitian National Police (PNH), and a better future for their children. A few thousand people attended the event over the course of the day and CIMO, the paramilitary police unit, similiar to SWAT in the US, came in a show of good faith and to provide security. The PNH made their first patrol in Cite Soleil on the forth of October, after months of absence after having indiscriminately killed many civilians and enraging the population.

Preval has clamped down on the corrupt PNH and everyone I have spoken with now see them as a good factor in the community and welcome their patrols. Many in Cite Soleil see the problems here as Haitian, which many are, and want the PNH back and MINUSTAH out. They tell me they don't want international peacekeepers "fixing" Haitian problems. For this reason, reconciliation with the police and CIMO is desired by many Haitians. In other areas of Port-au-Prince however, MINUSTAH is well liked and is seen as effecting positive change. Everyone I ask says something slightly different.

Many artists showed their support by performing at the event and everyone in attendance had a great time singing, dancing, enjoying the music in support of a "demen ka pi bel", a tomorrow that can be better. Things are looking up, but for how long?