PORT-AU-PRINCE, 2 March 2004 — US Marines, French troops and rebels moved into the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince yesterday.
Between 150 and 200 US Marines arrived at the airport and then deployed around the capital, including the National Palace, where thousands of people gathered to cheer the rebel leaders who played a critical role in Jean Bertrand Aristide’s departure.
They were joined shortly after dawn by the first of 130 French troops who were sent from Martinique, less than 12 hours after the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a multinational stabilization force to restore order in Haiti.
A small number of Canadian special forces, who had secured Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Sunday for the evacuation of Canadian citizens, remained at their posts.
The Marines set up a control-and-command center in the airport’s diplomatic lounge and unloaded military trucks and Humvees off military transport planes.
“US forces have been sent to secure key sites in the capital for the purpose of establishing peace and security and help promote the constitutional and political process,” said Col. Dave Berger, who commands the contingent from the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Marines.
“We’re here to create conditions for the anticipated arrival of a UN multinational force,” he said.
Rebels too rolled into the capital and were greeted by thousands of jubilant residents, then met in a hotel with members of the political coalition that had opposed Aristide.
Attending the meeting was rebel leader Guy Philippe and Evans Paul, a former mayor of Port-au-Prince and a top opposition figure. Louis-Jodel Chamblain, a former military death squad leader who also leads the rebels, was seen smoking a cigarette outside.
Reporters were barred from attending, but Paul — as he left the parley at one point — had positive words to say about Philippe. “He has played an important role,” Paul said. After the rebel convoy arrived in the capital from the western town of Gonaives, thousands danced in the streets and cheered Aristide’s ouster.
The convoy first headed to a plaza outside the National Palace and Guy and some other rebels entered a police station nearby. Thousands of Haitians converged on the square, shouting “Liberty!” and “Aristide is gone!”
Aristide, who left office Sunday, arrived in the Central African Republic — for “a few days” according to state radio. He said those who overthrew him have “cut down the tree of peace,” but “it will grow again.”
The rebels riding atop pickup trucks pumped their fists as their convoy entered Port-au-Prince. Welcoming residents shouted “Guy Philippe!” Asked what his intentions were in the capital, Philippe told an Associated Press reporter traveling with him: “We’re just going to make sure the palace is clean for the president to come ... that there is no threat there.”
He said he was referring to Supreme Court Justice Boniface Alexandre, who on Sunday said he was taking control of the government as called for by the constitution.
It was unclear how the rebel force would be greeted by the U.S. and French troops. Philippe earlier said he welcomed deployment of foreign peacekeepers.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell made clear he did not want to see some of the leaders of the motley rebel groups try to assume any roles in the new government.
“Some of these individuals we would not want to see re-enter civil society in Haiti because of their past records and this is something we will have to work through,” Powell said.
