Martelly confirms plan to rebuild Haiti's armed forces

Martelly confirms plan to rebuild Haiti's armed forces

Haitian President Michel Martelly Thursday confirmed the existence of a plan to rebuild the country's armed forces.

Martelly also said he would present a bill to the parliament in response to criticism arising from the legislature for not having been taken into account in implementing the initiative.

"Many young people hope to join the new forces," the president said at the inauguration of a radio station facility destroyed by a quake in January, 2010.

Under the bill, Martelly said the Haitian government intends to reconstitute the army to take over the management of safety from the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH), exercise defense of territory and border control, and create an environment conducive to domestic and foreign investment.

In the next three and a half years, the new Haitian armed forces will have at least 3,500 troops, according to the bill.

Earlier this week, a plan of Defense Policy and National Security was released, saying the president would issue a decree next month to rebuild the army.

The Haitian president also reiterated his rejection of an immediate withdrawal of the whole MINUSTAH, because the country currently can't by itself guarantee national security.

MINUSTAH, established in June 2004, is now in the center of a scandal over the alleged rape of an 18-year-old Haitian young man by its five Uruguayan soldiers.

According to the UN plan, MINUSTAH will be reduced gradually, and its number will be cut from some 2,000 troops to 450 as the first step of withdrawal from the country.

Editor: Yamei Wang

English.news.cn   2011-10-01 12:45:33 FeedbackPrintRSS
SANTO DOMINGO, Sept. 30 (Xinhua)