Presidential
Martelly: "Don't be ashamed to call it an army..."
- Thursday, 20 October 2011 10:29
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The President of the Republic, Michel Martelly, defended his plans to reinstate the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAdH) and call it an army on the grounds that it was an indigenous army that created Haiti.
Speaking at the introduction of Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday, the Head of State reaffirmed his promise to decree the return of the Haitian army on November 18, on the anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres.
"I promised to return the army on November 18 and there are already people that are scared, who are not happy... while they are not happy, it is an indigenous army that created this country. So you can't be ashamed to call it an army and want to call it by another name..."
"During the campaign I invited people to discuss what we would call it because I did not want to create a tumult, everyone was in agreement that it was a necessity to have a Haitian force to defend the interests of the country."
"Well the president, himself, has taken the final decision. The indigenous army created this nation so we will call it 'army'..."
The president has expressed his determination to reinstate the armed forces despite its past of human rights abuses and the idea of its return being controversial.
The Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and National Defense, Thierry Mayard-Paul is committed to see the forces return on November 18 saying recently "this force is necessary to secure the borders, combat illegal trafficking and enable the State to levy more taxes on the country's borders."
Related 10.19.2011: Dessalines Day Scandalized by Absenteeism
Related 10.17.2011: Martelly: "We must respect the presidency..."
Related 10.17.2011: Martelly Says He Will Form Army With or Without Help
Related 10.13.2011: President Martelly's Visit with Former Presidents Aristide and Duvalier
Related 10.12.2011: Martelly Meets with Former President Prosper Avril
Related 10.05.2011: Senator Jean-Charles Warns of a Martelly Dictatorship
