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Our presence
has made a positive difference
by Lt. Col. Dave Lapan
Ms Sabir: I have no desire to get into a debate with you over the political
situation in Haiti; that is not my place as a military spokesman. I would
like to address a few of the points you have made with regards to the
military presence here.
First, you say Marines have done no good since they have been in Haiti.
The attached fact sheet, which has been provided to the Haitian media
as well, lists just a few of the successes we have had since we arrived.
This is just a tip of the iceberg.
Second, as I said in my first letter, Marines have neither fired into
crowds nor stood by while Haitian police did. We have not arrested or
tortured anyone. If you have proof of such, I would be interested in seeing
it, and not simply "eyewitness" reports from those with an agenda. Talking
to selected individuals, especially if all are members of the same group,
may not present an accurate picture of events. As a journalist, you know
to seek the opinions of many people in order to corroborate stories. I
have not been contacted by any journalists who claim to be eyewitnesses
to what you have reported. Nor was I contacted by your organization to
ask about the allegations before simply printing them. What pictures do
you have, other than those of bodies? How do you know how those people
in the photos were killed or injured? In Haiti (as in San Francisco and
any other population center) people die but how they died is not always
knowable. For all the accusations of Marines firing into crowds or standing
by while others did, I have seen no photos to support those claims.
All of the military forces here, including the Marines that you disparage,
adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, UN Chapter 7 (under which
this force operates) and international law. If there are violations, we
take action to correct them and hold those accountable for violating them.
But that hasn't been the case.
To answer your question, the U.S. military is here as part of a four-nation
Multinational Interim Force authorized by UN Security Council Resolution
1529 (passed unanimously on Feb. 29). We are here because the commander-in-chief
of the armed forces ordered us here. And we have accomplished much in
the two months we have been here. We have our headquarters at a former
medical university because the government of Haiti authorized us to be
here. When we arrived, there were no students here and the buildings of
the university had been heavily damaged and looted. Our force has spent
more than one-half million dollars to repair and refurbish this complex.
We have provided water from the wells here to the local community. Ask
those people, who had to walk miles each day for water if they object
to our presence. Because of the destruction, were we not here, I doubt
any classes would be in session. And rather than focusing on the 200 or
so students who once attended classes here, why not focus on the thousands
of students across Haiti who can once again attend classes because we
are here. Before the arrival of the Multinational Interim Force, schools
were closed, businesses were closed, people stayed in their homes day
and night for fear of being killed. Those conditions no longer exist.
Are there Haitians who think we are occupiers? I'm sure there are. Are
there some who wish we would leave? Yes. But I think MOST Haitians recognize
that our presence has brought them back from the chaos that existed during
February. We can't solve all the problems that face this country or her
people but our presence has made a positive difference in the lives of
many.
As for your hints of racism, I'd be happy to have you converse with the
many soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of color who
are part of our force - to include a number of Haitian-Americans - and
I know you'll hear differently. In fact, in my job, I'm paid to be diplomatic.
I can't guarantee that they'd respond in the same fashion.
Finally, other than the presence of U.S. military forces, there is nothing
connecting Iraq and Haiti. They are completely different situations and
circumstances.
Read the powerful responses to Lt. Col. Lapan by two Haitian-American
lawyers, Lionel
Jean-Baptiste, a well-know reparations activist in Chicago, and Francois-Marie
Michel, a popular radio host in New York, at www.sfbayview.com.
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