Feral Jundi

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Publications: From Private Security To Public Good–Regulating The Private Security Industry In Haiti

I thought this would be a good one for those of you interested in working in Haiti. This paper goes over the various challenges the PSC industry is coming up against, and some possible solutions for squaring away that industry. Ever since the earth quake, Haiti has been struggling to maintain order and rebuild. Having a well regulated and effective security industry will definitely help to maintain that order. –Matt

 

 

From Private Security to Public Good: Regulating the Private Security Industry in Haiti
Geoff Burt
June 18, 2012
Haiti, like many countries, relies heavily on private security companies to protect people and property. However, while the private security industry has a vital role to play in stabilizing the country, it has long functioned without effective government oversight. Haiti’s security sector reform (SSR) process has begun to address this shortcoming. The paper analyzes the current state of the private security industry in Haiti and the legal framework under which it operates, and makes recommendations for how a reformed legal and regulatory regime can guide the next phase of its development, based on interviews with owners and agents of private security companies, industry associations, senior Haitian police personnel, United Nations (UN) planners and parliamentary leaders. The paper concludes that genuine consultation and partnership between the government, industry and civil society is required, if SSR programs in Haiti and elsewhere are to successfully marshal private resources towards the public good.
Read the publication here.
Download PDF here.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Haiti: Security Update–Bad, To Worse

     Amnesty International documented cases of sexual violence in camps. Four of the victims interviewed were children. An 8-year-old girl called Celine (not her real name) was alone in the tent at night when she was raped. Her mother had left the camp to work and had no one to look after her daughter during her absence. A 15-year-old girl, called Fabienne (not her real name) was raped when she left the camp to urinate, as there were no latrines within the camp. Carline (not her real name), 21, was raped by 3 men when she went to urinate in a remote area of the camp, as the latrines were too dirty to be used. Pascaline (not her real name), 21, was raped and beaten in her tent, neighbors failed to intervene because they believed she was with her partner. 

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   What can I say?  These folks that continue to promote this idea that security is not important, or that contracting security is disaster capitalism will have the crimes and violence in Haiti all over their pen holding hands.  Shame on you. All I have to say is that you cowards have to look at yourself in the mirror every day and realize that people are suffering because of this ‘non-action’ you keep promoting.

    But it gets worse.  Now we are sending cops from one humanitarian disaster (Rwanda) to another disaster (Haiti), and somehow this gets a free pass?

    The first article below is about sending Rwandan cops to Haiti. Whose hair brained idea was this and how are these clowns going to actually increase security in Haiti?  As the first article below has clearly stated, Rwanda is the last country to get get security forces from or claim some kind of humanitarian award for excellence.

     The second article is about the $ 13.55 billion that world wide donors have raised to rebuild Haiti. Billions….  That’s nice and all, but if there is that much money floating around, why are Haitians having any issues at all regarding security?  In my view, that money should be used to first provide security in Haiti, so that the building process can actually take place. Food, water and shelter is great, but if you get murdered/raped/robbed, then what good is that other stuff?  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs comes to mind.

     To depend on piss poor UN troops, Rwandan security, or a depleted and ravaged Haitian police is not working.  I say contract a police force to come in and assist, and in the mean time build the prison up and build police capability.  But for security right now when it is most needed, there should be no hesitation.  Get it done, or watch crimes, murders, and rapes continue to be committed. That would be a good use of a small portion of that large sum of money. That isn’t disaster capitalism, that’s just human decency and compassion.  To stand by and watch is unacceptable.

   The third article goes into detail on how the Haitian police are struggling to bring order to the chaos.  They are simply overwhelmed. Thousands of prisoners have escaped, gang violence has increased, rapes have increased, and the police is dealing with a destroyed city and people.  So why is it that we are not sending in the cavalry?  Oh that’s right, the Rwandans are the cavalry.  Pfffft.

   Now get this.  In the fourth article, it discusses how the locals have had to organize their own security forces to deal with this stuff.  If that is not an indicator that police are in trouble, I don’t know what is. So is street justice better than contracting security who would be supporting Haitian security forces?

   The last quote and article is from Amnesty International.  They are screaming for more police in their recommendations, and their report is pretty clear.  Crimes are up, as is sexual assaults, and of course they want something done about it.  What is not in the report, is AI’s position on Rwandan cops trying to secure the mess in Haiti. The other thing that is missing is that AI made no mention of contracting security forces to step in to stop these stuff. It’s strange and somewhat disgusting to me that the humanitarian option in Haiti that continues to be promoted by all of these so called ‘humanitarian groups’, is to not do ‘everything’ within our power to stop this. -Matt

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US-UN Peace-keepers” bring Rwandan Police to Haiti

March 11, 2010

by Ann Garrison

In case anyone needed further evidence that President Paul Kagame’s Rwanda is the Pentagon’s proxy, 140 Rwandan police are about to undertake special training before heading to Haiti, as reported in the Rwanda New Times, because, according to Rwandan Police Chief Edmund Kayiranga, “Rwanda wants to be involved in promoting peace in other countries” and, if need be, they would send more peacekeepers to other countries.

(more…)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Haiti: Kidnappings And Sexual Assaults On The Rise, And How ‘Shock Doctrine’ Fear Mongering Is Hurting Haitians

   Thanks to Matt for sending me this.  My question on all of this, is where is the Main Stream Media? I mean they were all over Haiti when it was cool and made for great coverage. Disaster relief is a marathon, not a short race, and there are stories that are just not getting the coverage they need.  Like the thousands of prisoners that escaped, and the slow and steady increase of crime or assaults. By now, we should have had any deficiencies in security corrected–either with more UN or Haitian police, or with private security.  There is plenty of money for such things, and there is absolutely no excuse for not implementing effective security solutions for the Haiti.

   I also think that this stupid book on ‘disaster capitalism’  called Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, is actually making things worse for the Haitians. Aid companies now think that contracting security or private industry is somehow a bad thing, and that paying for such things is ‘disaster capitalism’.

    Meanwhile, their employees on the ground are getting kidnapped or sexually assaulted, all because they are afraid that contracting security would offend their donors.  How totally irresponsible and pathetic is that? I also think it is irresponsible of those in the media who have promoted such things, because now you are helping the criminals of Haiti with your reportage. And what really kills me is that none of these aid organizations or main stream media groups get the label of disaster capitalists?

    To me, their entire existence depends upon disasters, and they certainly need them in order to get donations or viewership.  Make another dollar off the suffering of Haitians…. and you guys label my industry as disaster capitalists?  Pfffft.  At least my industry does something other than making media spectacles out of that suffering, or begging for money to support massive aid organizations.

   Below, I also posted the excellent commentary by the IPOA in regards to this ‘Shock Doctrine’ fear mongering that the Juice Box Commandos out there have been spewing. Bravo to JJ Messner and company for calling it the way they see it. The ideas of Naomi are contributing to more suffering in Haiti, and it needs to be put in check. Maybe I should start a Facebook page called ‘The Shock Doctrine Fear Mongering Club–Support Crime And Instability In Haiti!!’. –Matt

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UN: Kidnappers release Belgian taken in Haiti

By MIKE MELIA

Fri Mar 26, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Kidnappers have released a Belgian businessman who was grabbed as he drove through Haiti’s capital, a U.N. police official said Friday.

Philippe Van Reybrouck, a longtime Haiti resident, had been in captivity for about 24 hours and was freed in good condition Thursday after a ransom was paid, said Michel Martin, the Canadian chief of the U.N.’s criminal intelligence unit in Haiti.

(more…)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Industry Talk: Triple Canopy Donates And Delivers Humanitarian Aid To Haitian Earthquake Victims

   Outstanding and good on TC for giving to a worthy cause. It sounds like Diamondback Tactical and others have pitched in as well, and that is great when you see this kind of assistance.  Now if we can get some guards over there to protect the women and other innocents at these camps, then we can really do some good. –Matt

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Triple Canopy Donates and Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Haitian Earthquake Victims

Partners with GHESKIO HIV/AIDS Clinic for Timely Philanthropic Mission

March 17, 2010

Triple Canopy, Inc., a leading provider of integrated security and mission support services, announced today that it has donated supplies, transportation and personnel in an effort to provide shelter to thousands of homeless earthquake victims in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Triple Canopy is supporting the efforts of the Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections (GHESKIO) to deliver aid to homeless families camped on its compound. Triple Canopy was able to coordinate with staff from GHESKIO to determine what kind of aid would be the most helpful. Within two weeks of establishing contact, a chartered flight loaded with tents, flashlights, generators and other vital items landed in Port-au-Prince.

Founded in 1982, the GHESKIO Center was the first institution in the world dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS. In the aftermath of the earthquake, thousands of refugees migrated to the center and have been living there in makeshift shelters.

“Upon learning about the dire situation on the ground, Triple Canopy reached out to Dr. Bill Pape, director of GHESKIO, and ascertained the critical need for shelter prior to the onslaught of the rainy season,” said Triple Canopy CEO Ignacio Balderas. “For the past three weeks, hundreds of entire Haitian families designated by GHESKIO were able to move out of their makeshift hovels and move into waterproof tents erected by our personnel.”

(more…)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Haiti: Women, Girls Rape Victims In Haiti Quake Aftermath

   Thanks to Matt for sending me this.  I find it disgusting that we are still talking about a lack of security in Haiti. Especially when there are plenty of security resources to call upon in the U.S. and world.  What are they doing with all the millions of dollars raised for the relief effort is my question? If there is a security need, then pay the money, and get some boots on the ground to do the job right.

   Oh, and here we see the U.N. is again failing at their basic task of protecting people.  If they can’t do the job, then they need to step aside and let a competent PSC/PMC do the job. Time is of the essence and if we cannot depend upon the U.N. to do the job, then it would make more sense to privatize the security.  At least until the police have been rejuvenated and all of those prisoners have been rounded up and captured.

   The other point to focus in on, is those thousands of escaped criminals along with the fact that hundreds of women have lost husbands/fathers/boyfriends to the quake, along with a damaged police force and infrastructure, has all created the perfect storm for this kind of crime to occur. Defenseless women with thousands of criminals roving the country, equals a rise in sex crimes. Nor can you lock up a tent or sleeping pad in a relief camp, to keep the bad guys out. Does anyone else see this as a serious problem?  Man oh mighty.

   Meanwhile, the media is crying about my industry wanting to get in there and provide those security services. I guess the media would prefer the world just stands by on the sidelines and let it happen. Or have all that money raised for the effort just sit in the banks so aid agencies can collect on the interest. Time is ticking away, and the women and people of Haiti need real security and not just talk. –Matt

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Women, girls rape victims in Haiti quake aftermath

By MICHELLE FAUL

Tue Mar 16, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – When the young woman needed to use the toilet, she went out into the darkened tent camp and was attacked by three men.

“They grabbed me, put their hands over my mouth and then the three of them took turns,” the slender 21-year-old said, wriggling with discomfort as she nursed her baby girl, born three days before Haiti’s devastating quake.

“I am so ashamed. We’re scared people will find out and shun us,” said the woman, who suffers from abdominal pain and itching, likely from an infection contracted during the attack.

(more…)

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