U.S. Special Forces in Haiti Seeking Out Rebel Leaders

Friday, March 5, 2004
By Tim Weiner

New York Times Writer

"They kidnapped Aristide," Égalité Smith, 31, said of the Americans. "We want no war, but we want no occupation of Haiti." General Hill acknowledged that "some people say it's an occupation." But he said the mission of the multinational military force here was "the re-establishment of the rule of law." To that end, he said, the military would work to establish a police force from the remains of the national police.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- NYT
Newly arrived United States Special Forces sought out rebel leaders on Friday, as marines at the presidential palace were jeered and cursed by demonstrators loyal to the deposed president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The American commandos are in the rebel strongholds of Cap Haitien and Gonaïves, an American commander said. The commander, Gen. James T. Hill, said the rebels had not laid down their weapons as they had promised, though some had withdrawn from the capital.

Their most prominent leader, Guy Philippe, "is still in the city, and we are still looking for him to lay down his arms," said General Hill, who heads the Pentagon's Southern Command.

General Hill, flanked by commanders of French, Canadian and Chilean forces at the international airport here, denounced the rebels' call for the re-establishment of the Haitian Army. The Haitian military, long an instrument of political terror, overthrew President Aristide in 1991.

"There is no need for a Haitian Army," General Hill said forcefully. "I was here when President Aristide disbanded it, and that was the correct thing to do at the time."

Mr. Aristide, who was returned to power by American forces in 1994, disbanded the army in 1995. He left Haiti on Sunday under pressure from the United States and the armed rebels. The rebel uprising began one month ago in Gonaïves, spread to Cap Haitien and then swept into Port-au-Prince on Monday.

(More: NYTimes / International)

2004 © The New York Times Company.

Dan