Haiti's Preval asks Brazil's Lula for more police
By Joseph Guyler Delva
PORT-AU-PRINCE, May 28 (Reuters) - Haitian President Rene Preval urged Brazil to send more police and engineers to his impoverished Caribbean country during a visit on Wednesday by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Brazil heads the 9,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force sent to Haiti four years ago to provide security after then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted in an armed rebellion. Lula is making his first trip to Haiti since 2004.
Brazil has about 1,200 military personnel in Haiti, including soldiers, police and engineers.
"We have told President Lula to send more police instead of military," Preval said as the two leaders made statements at the National Palace after their meeting.
"We don't have the same situation where we have to confront organized armed groups in Haiti, but (rather) armed individuals who through kidnappings are causing a lot of pain."
While peacekeepers have largely quelled the gang violence that followed Aristide's ouster, kidnapping-for-ransom and other street crime remains a serious problem in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
Preval said 25 kidnappings had been reported to the police in May alone. Human rights groups put the figure closer to 40.
The U.N. peacekeeping force includes 7,082 troops and 1,930 police. Haiti's police force numbers about 8,000.
Preval did not say how many more police officers he wanted Brazil to send. Lula made no comment on Preval's request for more police, but said he was sending more engineers.
Lula lauded the peacekeepers for their role in restoring a measure of stability to Haiti, which has been roiled by political upheaval, dictatorships and violence for decades.
"The military has succeeded in their mission to combat violence and ensure peace and stability," Lula said.
He later met with the Brazilian commander in Haiti, Gen. Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, and talked to troops at their base in Tabarre, just outside the capital.
At least six people were killed in food riots that shook Haiti in early April. Protesters clashed with peacekeepers in the southern city of Les Cayes and the violence spread to the capital, where stores were looted and buildings were vandalized.
The unrest set back Preval's efforts to establish democratic institutions in Haiti and led to the firing of Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis and his cabinet.
The last time Lula was in Port-au-Prince was August 2004, when he made a quick visit for a friendly soccer game between Haiti and Brazil. The game was played in a carnival atmosphere as Haitians celebrated the presence of the legendary Brazilian players. The then world champions beat the local team 6-0. (Editing by Jim Loney and Mohammad Zargham)
