The United Nations Security Council decided in October 2007 to extend the mandate of the MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) through Oct. 15, 2008. The Brazilian government is responsible for coordinating the MINUSTAH forces that include approximately 9,000 troops. Yet there is very little discussion in Brazil about the country's role in the occupation of Haiti, and especially, about the accusations leveled against the United Nations troops for their participation in human rights violations.

The Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, O.A.B.) led an observation mission to Haiti in late June 2007 and concluded that MINUSTAH plays a "violent" and "repressive" role that cannot be characterized as a "humanitarian action." Anderson Bussinger Carvalho, the lawyer responsible for the report, called for the withdrawal of Brazilian troops from Haiti. "I have concluded that the presence of Brazilian troops is not humanitarian. It is a strictly military mission. Haiti has a history of military occupations and Brazil ends up playing a role in this history," said Carvalho in an interview with the newspaper A Folha de São Paulo (Sept. 4, 2007).

The experience of Brazilian troops in Haiti was described by soldier Tailon Ruppenthal in his book "A Brazilian Soldier in Haiti" (Globo Publishing). He was 20 years old in 2004 when he took part in the United Nations mission for six months. When Ruppenthal returned to Brazil his behavior changed. "I was very aggressive and started to drink a lot. My mom noticed how much I had changed, and we found a doctor who diagnosed post-traumatic syndrome. I would need to receive psychological help. We approached the army, but they refused to help me, claiming that they examined me upon my return and found nothing wrong with me." And he sums up, "And I just would like to remind everyone that we are losing the real war: against poverty.… Only the fight against poverty will bring peace. When will they see that?"

Unfortunately, Ruppenthal's opinion and the many criticisms of the negative role the United Nations troops play in Haiti are not taken into account by the Brazilian government. The Brazilian government's policy in relation to Haiti serves to legitimize a coup d'état and strengthen United States interests in the region.

SOURCE: Center for International Policy