Page 193 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

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assumed mission
Those were the principal purposes of the Mission: assure (eshur) a minimum safety con-
dition to continue the constitutional and political process; help to organize the National Po-
lice and to support disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of irregular groups to the
country.
The UN military force comprised of 6.700 men, under the command of a Brazilian gen-
eral. The vice-chief was to be a Chilean general. From the Brazilian Army was sent a peace
brigade (Brigada Haiti) with 1197 infantry troops and armoured under the command of a
general. It would be constructed an Operations base. The principal area of responsibility
would be Porto Principe, however the brigade was sent to Hinche, Gonaives, Grand Goave
and Thomazeau, because there were few soldiers of other nations. Getting to Haiti in June,
25 , the Brazilian troops replaced the Multinational Force installing themselves at Tabarre
th
University.

peacekeeping organization
The Brazilian peace keeping force was basically formed by two regular battalions, the first
one from the Army infantry the other one from the Marine Corps. The force also comprised
a support armoured squadron, an operations base with logistics, psychological operations,
social, recreation and religious sections, with a total of 2.600 men. This simple organization
was kept during the whole political and unstable situation.
From 2007 on, the brigade was reduced to a battalion with four companies, three of Army
infantry and one from the marines, plus an armoured squadron, with a total of 1.200 men. It
was increased with an engineer company. Nowadays the Haitian government asked for an-
other engineer company to be added to the force. Besides the Brazilian force, there are other
military groups from many countries, most coming from South America.

peacekeeping operation training
The Brazilian force has been replaced every six months by another contingent recruited
from different regions of Brazil. All groups have been training in a Peacekeeping Training
Center in Rio de Janeiro. Besides military training, the men were instructed on how to be-
have with the local population, respecting Haitian culture, customs, religiosity (religion) and
traditions. The Haitians are to be seen as brothers who need help, never as an enemy. In order
to help communications with the local population all personnel study French and Creole,
including officers who are chosen by their special characteristics and knowledge of English
and French.

peacekeeping operations
In June, the first, 2004 , the Brazilian force arrived in Haiti to compose MINUSTAH, the
fifth UN mission to stabilize the situation in this country, ten years after Brazil had criticized
the American military occupation.
In spite of a lot of criticism from the press, the government and the Brazilian people do