[A-List] [Fwd: [R-G] Public sentiment mounts in Brazil for the troops to return home]

[Macdonald Stainsby]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [R-G] Public sentiment mounts in Brazil for the troops to 
return	home
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:21:00 -0800
From: Anthony Fenton <fentona at shaw.ca>
Reply-To: Radical anti-capitalist environmental discussion. 
<rad-green at lists.econ.utah.edu>
To: Radical anti-capitalist environmental discussion. 
<rad-green at lists.econ.utah.edu>

AHP News, January 10, 2006

Public sentiment mounts in Brazil for the troops to return home:
parliamentarians accuse Haitian pressure groups of  forcing the
MINUSTAH soldiers to carry out repression against the poor in the
shantytowns 

  Port-au-Prince, January 10, 2006 (AHP)- The death of General Urano
Teixera Da Matta Bacellar in Haiti has provoked a lively response in
Brazil among circles opposed to the presence of Brazilian troops in
Haiti.  

  A number of members of the Brazilian Parliament are emphasizing that
the cost of this troop presence is excessive for Brazil, which is 
fulfilling its military role while the rich nations are not keeping
their promises to promote economic development in Haiti after the
departure of President Aristide.  

  The socialist Deputy Orlando Fantazzini, member of the Foreign Affairs
Commission of the Lower House, indicated that while Brazil may be
gaining experience in international missions, it is regrettable that
the Brazilian troops are doing the dirty work while the Unites States
refuses to keep its promises.  

  "The death of General Bacellar is forcing us to think deeply; should
we remain in Haiti or should we leave", asked  Mr.  Fantazzini.

  In his view, Brazil should recall its 1,200 men as soon as the
presidential and legislative elections scheduled for February 7 are
held.  

  The socialist party to which Mr. Fantazzini belongs presented a draft
resolution last December in the House of Deputies demanding the
immediate withdrawal of Brazilian forces from Haiti.  

  Deputy Fernando Gabeiras, a member of the Green Party, also considered
that Brazil should bring its troops home.   

  The MINSUTAH soldiers are the object of constant pressure pushing them
to carry out repression against the poor in the shantytowns, he said.  

  Our soldiers are being asked to use military means to address a social
problem, said the parliamentarian.  

  In Brazil as in Haiti, several sectors see a connection between the
death of General Bacellar and the pressure he was facing to intervene
brutally in the shantytown of  Cité Soleil (north of the capital).  

  For his part, Brazilian Vice-President  Jose Alencas, who is also
Minister of Defense, said that  withdrawal of the Brazilian troops is
no way to respond to the death of the general.  

   Jose Alencas asserted that now is not the right moment to discuss
whether or not the troops will leave or remain in Haiti.    

  The remains of the military commander of MINUSTAH were repatriated
Monday evening to Brazil, according to David Wimhurst, director of the
office of communications and public relations of MINUSTAH.  

  According to Mr. Wimhurst, despite the void left by the death of
General Bacellar, the morale of the UN troops remains good as they
continue to do a good job fulfilling their mission.  

  The MINUSTAH official also denied allegations that the UN force
inflicted casualties during operations conducted in Cité Soleil over
the past 48 hours.

   " MINUSTAH has not conducted any operation in Cité Soleil over the
past two days",  declared David Wimhurst, explaining that the
detonations heard there were the result of a clash between rival gangs.
  AHP January 10, 2006 11:10 AM


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-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.