Prensa Latina

The Haitian Senate supported President Rene Preval's plan on Monday, to set up a "gendarme" unit instead of restoring the armed forces.

Jean Rudolf Joaisil, member of the congressional Justice and Security Committee and former military officer, assured that the Senate has no interest in reinstating the army dissolved in 1995.

This unit will guard the national territory from foreign threats, patrol the border and support the police, and it is of no importance what it is called, he pointed out.

He said that the situation of public security is now tolerable and called on authorities to continue being tough on crime.

Haiti's Armed Forces were dismissed as part of the arrangements to reinstate former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, ousted by a military coup.

They were replaced in 1995 by a civilian force backed by the UN Mission for Haiti (MINUHA), considering that the Army had hindered democratic processes, supported coups and perpetuated dictatorship.