[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         HAITI--WITHOUT AN ARMY

                                 ______


                       HON. ROBERT G. TORRICELLI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record an article from 
the Washington Post on Haiti.
  The article follows:

               [From the Washington Post, Nov. 22, 1994]

                         Haiti--Without an Army

                            (By Oscar Arias)

       Haiti and Panama are, respectively, the oldest and youngest 
     independent nations in Latin America. The histories of both 
     peoples have been marked by a tragic parallelism of poverty, 
     foreign intervention and dictatorship. In particular, the 
     second half of the 20th century has seen Haitian and 
     Panamanian aspirations to liberty and democracy ruthlessly 
     suppressed through the usurpation of political power by 
     national armed forces.
       By definition, the army or national guard owes allegiance 
     and obedience to civil authorities. The Haitian and 
     Panamanian armed forces repeatedly violated the national 
     constitution and oppressed the people they were charged to 
     protect. Neither army possessed a credible strategic 
     capability; neither army could act effectively to defend 
     territorial borders. But both armies consumed a huge part of 
     the national budget, diverting resources that could have been 
     dedicated to improving the lives of hungry children and 
     disenfranchised citizens.
       In October of 1994, two events critical to the future of 
     peace and democracy on our continent took place: the fall of 
     a bloody military dictatorship and the reinstatement of the 
     democratically elected government in Haiti, and the 
     constitutional abolition of the national armed forces in 
     Panama. While the international press has thoroughly covered 
     the return to power of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand 
     Aristide, it has practically ignored the great achievement of 
     the Panamanian people. The citizens of the United States must 
     not have yet realized that two members of the Organization of 
     American States--Panama and Costa Rica--have constitutionally 
     abolished their armed forces. In these two countries, 
     politics and geography have forged the first demilitarized 
     region in the world.
       This unjustified silence deprives the world of good tidings 
     and the Panamanian people of well-deserved congratulations. 
     Silence also mutes the suggestion that the international 
     community's intervention in Haiti could be used to persuade 
     the Haitian people to constitutionally abolish their army.
       To ensure the viability of Haitian democracy, the world 
     must unite to give rapid and massive aid toward the 
     reconstruction of the Haitian economy. We must also take 
     advantage of this opportunity to save the Haitian people from 
     future suffering, to help them consolidate their democracy 
     and to offer aid in the determination of the best use of 
     their economic resources. All these goals can be realized 
     through complete and definitive demilitarization.
       When the efforts of people of good will are united, 
     tremendous results can be achieve. For the good of the women 
     and men of Haiti, and for the good of Latin America, these 
     efforts should now be turned toward urging President Aristide 
     and the members of the parliament in Port au Prince to repeat 
     the Panamanian victory in Haiti. The culture of violence must 
     be replaced by a culture of peace and solidarity. The small 
     states of Central America and the Caribbean can take the 
     first step toward achieving demilitarization on a global 
     scale. I am certain that the Haitian people, as did their 
     Panamanian and Costa Rican brothers and sisters, will support 
     this historic resolution.
       There have been innumerable martyrs to the cause of Haitian 
     peace and democracy. Their sacrifice must not be in vain. Now 
     is the hour of democracy. Now is the hour of peace. A few 
     years ago, demilitarization was a utopia for Panama. Today it 
     is a fact. Let us invoke the Haitian utopia today, so that it 
     can become a reality in the very near future.

                          ____________________