Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant notes that armed individuals, dressed in military uniforms identified as "Haitian Armed Forces - Forces Armées d'Haïti", are occupying the streets of the capital and certain provincial towns by claiming to be part of the military institution.

Lafontant states that this attitude contravenes the Constitution and in particular the provisions of the Criminal Law, in its articles 70,217,218, and Article 7 of the Decree of 12 January 1988 laying down the conditions for the appropriation, possession and use of weapons, ammunition, explosives and other categories of so-called dangerous weapons on the national territory.

"The reconstitution of the Haitian Armed Forces must be no pretext for anyone to give themselves titles and statutes that the law does not recognize them and take advantage to sow confusion in public opinion and create public disorder. The conditions of recruitment and engagement in the two armed Forces provided for by the Constitution are determined by law [...]"

"Armed individuals posing as demobilized soldiers must report to the Office of Management of Demobilized Military to hand over all state property in their possession : weapons, ammunition, equipment, uniforms etc... under penalty of be prosecuted for illegal possession of firearms. The General Coordinator will make every effort to ensure the success of this operation.

Failing by these individuals to comply with these provisions, will be taken against them all measures so that force remains to the law.

It should be recalled that since 2004, the State has set up the Demobilized Military Management Office (BGMD) who has been executing since then, the compensatory indemnity program granted to the military because of their demobilization which is in its third and last phase.

HL/ HaitiLibre