The commander of the MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) forces, General Urano Bacellar, was found dead on January 7th with a bullet in his head. It is unclear whether he was murdered or whether it was suicide, but it is known that he was constantly being pushed to escalate the occupation of local neighbourhoods in Haiti. In particular, they demanded that UN troops occupied and acted with "more energy" in the local districts of Porto Principe (Port Au Prince), with the justification being that groups in those areas had been involved in recent kidnappings. Human rights activists state that the real reason is the persecution of opponents to the current regime.

The death of the general has left doubts about the political scene in the country. Presidential and parliamentary elections have been rescheduled for February 7th. However nothing guarantees a substantial change in relation to the current government of Gerard Latortue and Boniface, imposed after 2004 that took President Aristide out of power. Opposition candidates, such as Lavas, are facing problems being accepted. An example of this is father Gerard Jean Juste, who is imprisoned and forbbiden to register. The opponents of the government, whether friendly with Aristide or not, say that the elections are illegitimate, and that they fear repression from MINUSTAH, that could use violence to contain probable protests in districts during the election.

Read More from CMI Brazil | Dossie Haiti | ONU and haitian elite are planning more actions in the local neighbourhoods | Brazilian commander is found dead. Incrise deaths in local neighbourhoods | Indymedia Brasil | Haiti Proges | Haiti Action