14 October 2004, Philippine Mission to the UN, New York -The Philippines today asked the Security Council to consider requesting Caribbean countries to temporarily send troops to neighboring Haiti to help United Nations peacekeepers in preventing the tense situation there from spiraling out of control.

Ambassador Bayani S. Mercado, Deputy Permanent Representative and Charge d' Affaires of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, proposed the possibility of "borrowing troops" from neighboring Caribbean states after hearing a briefing on the recent outbreak of violence in typhoon-ravaged Haiti that has so far claimed the lives of more than 50 people.

In his intervention during the closed-door briefing, Ambassador Mercado said reinforcements are badly needed because the number of UN peacekeepers in Haiti would not be enough to ward off large-scale violence that may erupt there anytime soon.

Officials of the UN Department of Peace-Keeping Operations had said that the more than 3,000 troops presently on the ground in Haiti would not be enough to quell widespread violence in the country. More than 6,000 troops are needed to maintain a credible peacekeeping presence in Haiti but this figure could only be reached in December.

"It is apparent that the limited force complement of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti due to the delay in the deployment by contributing countries is affecting its effectiveness," Ambassador Mercado pointed out.

Ambassador Mercado expressed particular concern over the strong possibility of violence during demonstrations planned on Friday by pro-Aristide militants to mark the anniversary of his assumption as Haiti's president 10 years ago. Aristide's supporters are demanding his return from exile in South Africa, the disarming of rebels and an end to the "invasion" of international peacekeepers.

Tension is particularly high in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed rebels who ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide early this year are reportedly massing up. The rebels, made up of former army soldiers, have threatened to go after Aristide loyalists who have been blamed for the series of violent demonstrations that resulted in the deaths of several police officers and the wounding of two UN peacekeepers.

"There is clearly a breakdown in the rule of law," Ambassador Mercado said, pointing to the two-week violence that threaten to undermine the international community's efforts to restore security and stability in the disaster-stricken country.

"We are concerned over the incidents of violence in Haiti which have hampered the delivery of badly needed humanitarian assistance in the country," Ambassador Mercado said, referring to the recent typhoon that hit Haiti and claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people.

Military troops and civilian police officers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile Uruguay, Jordan and several other countries are presently assisting the Haiti National Police in maintaining order in most parts of Haiti.

The peacekeepers took over in August from the United States-led Multi-National Interim Force that was deployed in February to restore order in Haiti shortly after the ouster of President Aristide. Additional troops and civilian police officers from Spain, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Ecuador and the Philippines are also expected to be deployed there in the next two months.   END.