Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

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condemnation of 1991 military coup and subsequent multinational
intervention of September 1994. Argentina, Canada,
France, and United States especially active since the coup,
maintaining active presence through UN peacekeeping and
police training missions between 1994 and 1999. Haiti
recognized Cuba in 1996 and initiated exchange missions.
Presidents Aristide and Preval decreased Haiti's isolation
through participation in international summits. Haiti hosted
its first OAS General Assembly in 1995. Haiti's growing overseas
population gave country vocal presence in many North
American and European cities.
International Agreements and Memberships: Member of UN,
OAS, Caribbean Community, Association of Caribbean States,
Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, International
Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, and Lome
Convention.
National Security
Armed Forces: Armed Forces of Haiti (Forces Armees
d'Haiti—FAd'H) disbanded January 1995, after return of President
Aristide from exile. Strength of armed forces including
police elements 8,000 before Aristide's return.
Police: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haiti
PNH) with approximately 6,000 members only functioning
security force in late 1999.
Police Organization: Main components Administrative Police,
Judicial Police, and Office of Inspector General. Specialized
units include presidential and ministerial guards, crowd
control unit, Coast Guard, and Counternarcotics Unit. Nine
departmental directorates supervise city and rural divisions.
UN-sponsored police trainers helped form PNH in 1995; about
280 trainers from eleven countries as of late 1999.
Police Equipment: Ordinary police carry sidearms. Special
units have shotguns, semiautomatic rifles, and submachine
guns. Some riot equipment, vans, and radio equipment.
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