According to an internal and confidential UN document that has been circulating among member countries since last June, of which the Miami Herald got a copy, the international armed intervention force aimed at dismantling the threat to stability and securing Haiti for elections, could be a mix of military and police, and should have the means and intelligence capabilities to fight heavily armed gangs...

The document insists that "an international force must not substitute for, but complement, the HNP, and provide it with adequate capabilities, weapons, equipment and specialized expertise."

This 7-page document for discussion, stresses that it gives only an insight into the thinking at U.N. headquarters, where nations that could provide troops and police have been seeking greater clarity on what a security mission to Haiti would look like.

The document seeks to define the parameters, the rules of engagement and the use of force, in the hope of encouraging more countries to join this force, stressing that Haiti is a difficult terrain and that any incident would cause "negative reactions".

The document evokes both the reluctance of countries to intervene as well as the opposition to any foreign force entering Haiti.

"Several Member States have raised concern about the likelihood that such a force may not be warmly received by the public", indicates the document which acknowledges "it’s difficult to comprehensively assess domestic public opinion" and that a "a public information and communication strategy would be essential to convey clear messaging on the objective of the non-U.N. force and its obligation to adhere to human-rights standards."

The document does not specify the cost of such a mission and that an exit strategy would be based on the PNH's ability to maintain free movement along the country's national roads and supply routes, a "substantial and sustained" gang violence, Haiti's ability to hold criminal groups accountable, and "security conditions conducive to the organization of elections."

The mixed deployment of troops and police in Haiti would be authorized by the Security Council, the document specifies, but unlike a peacekeeping force, it would have "a light footprint, with low visibility but high mobility and readiness to conduct proactive policing jointly with the HNP to deter gang violence and either, jointly with the HNP or unilaterally, to conduct anti-gang operations."

SL/ HaitiLibre