Peace Operations, the Brazilian way

In 1936, Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, the noted Brazilian historian described in his famous “Raízes do Brazil” what he called the typical Brazilian cordiality. This cordiality has now also shown its efficiency above the line of the Equator, in the pacification process in Haiti. The massive Brazilian presence in the United Nations Stabilization Mission (Minustah) is making a difference.

That is what the military and civilians who have been to Haiti garantee, they spoke duting the First Peacebuilding Operations Seminar held by the Brazilian Marine Corps at its Peace Operations School, located in Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The seminar was held by the Pró-Defesa program, a partnership between the Brazilian Navy and two Brazilian universities, the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), and the University of  Brasília (UnB).

“Brazilians don't like formalities and show ease in dealing with friends and enemies. They are an example of the “cordial man”,” said Operations Commander, Capitão de Mar e Guerra Renato Rangel Ferreira, who commanded the Brazilian Navy Corps in Haiti and who explained a few of the strategies adopted by the navy corps in peace operations.

A number of the speakers highlighted the role of Brazilian cordiality as a decisive factor in the success of the peace operations. Brazilian ambassador to Haiti, Igor Kipman and his wife Roseana Kipman, were enthusiastic:

“When Brazil sent its peace operation forces into Haiti in 2004, it wanted to show a new paradigm in peace operations, directed towards the development and reconstruction of the nation, its insititutions and democratic society. In five years we see that all this has materialized. We made a difference in the country. The Minustah is recognizedly the most successful peace operation,” said the ambassador.

According to Kipman, the Brazilian military presence is the one that most calls attention in the pacification of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, it is admired and even envied. “People want to know what is the secret behind the integration of our troops with people in the streets. There is no secret, it is part of Brazilian nature, its not something that you acquire in a training center,” said the Brazilian ambassador, adding that Haitians tend to think the Minustah and the Brazilian force are one and the same thing.
 
The ambassador's wife, Roseana  was warmly applauded at the end of her speech, during which she showed photographs and recounted stories of suffering of the Haitian people and the effort of Brazilian forces to assuage it. She regularly accompanies humanitarian aid missions supported by the military forces. “In Haiti there are nine million people in abject poverty. This is a nation for grown ups, for people who are not afraid to look problems in the eye”, she said.

Roseana said that when missions involve food delivery, only women are allowed to stand in line, a way to prevent violence from erupting. When the food distribution is over, military troops escort the women back to their homes. “The armed forces act professionally but they are also imbued with the Brazilian spirit. The troops understand the children, they know how to make a real connection. They are happy to be able to help someone. We treat people well and are trated well in return,” said Roseana.

Among the security and development actions carried out in the nation, she highlighted the inauguration of the first women's police station, located inside the Naval Fort, and the work carried out clearing up the water drainage system. “This year there were no floods because of the work we did last year. We arrived in peace and we will leave in peace when the time comes,” said Roseana.

University of Cândido Mendes' Clóvis Brigagão aslo mentioned the cultural traits of Brazilians that have come into play in the success of the peacebuilding operation in Haiti. “The Brazilian mission stands out for factors such as the degree of professionalism, the spirit of solidarity, the capacity to adapt, self-confidence, a good natured attitude, the ease they have in interacting in a multinational environment, the positive attitude towards problem solving, dedication to the cause, flexibility and 'horizontality' or the ability to see others on the same footing,” said Brigagão.

In Professor Brigagão's view, who also complimented the work of Viva Rio in the country, civilian participation in peace operations ought to increase, with greater participation of universities as well as tecnicians. “At the end of the peace mission, there is peacebuilding – the construction of public policies. But there is practically no Brazilian presence in this field to speak of, in areas such as administration and the judiciary,” said Brigagão.

Security for the population

Canadian researcher Dan Hubert discussed the impact of peace operations on civilians, and the need to provide for civilian protection. He also reminded the audience that according to a 2005 document the UN states that when a state fails to protect its own population, other states may act. According to him, however, the notion is controversial, since it leaves it fails to specify who would be responsible to provide citizen security. “Peacekeeping is a phenomenon, there has never been so much. But it fails to provide humanitarian protection, just like in Kosovo and in East Timor,” he said.

Hubert added that missions can protect civilians resorting to any necessary means, including lethal force. In his view a successful peace operation depends on protecting the local population. “If the local population does not feel safe, a peace operation will not be successful. It is a challenge and I hope that Brazil will contribute to that, and this applies not only to the Minustah, but to all peace forces,” said Hubert.

According to Gilda Motta Santos Neves, the head of the United Nations Division of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations, the use of force is accepted in cases of self-defense, when there are obstacles to carrying out the mission, and in the protection of civilians, conditional on the authorization of the UN Security Council. “Without authorization the use of force is ilegal. The only exception is legitimate self-defense,” she explained.

Still according to Gilda, there can be no security without development and this is the idea that Brazil takes to the UN. “It is a central point of the Brazilian foreign policy in peace missions. The Minustah includes a development plan that was created along with the authorities and the local society. The idea is that when the mission leaves the situation will be stabilized and that it will not be necessary to send in another peace mission,” said the Brazilian diplomat, cautioning against an early withdrawal that could result in the situation deteriorating quickly.

In Haiti like in Rio

Viva Rio Executive Director and anthropologist Rubem César Fernandes explained the reason the NGO is in Haiti. “Haiti is a lot like Rio de Janeiro, there are inequalities, armed violence in an urban area and a similar cultural history. But Brazil has both problems and solutions.

What we learn in Rio and apply there is to work inside the communities. The Viva Rio headquarters in Haiti is inside Bel-Air. The closeness creates a relation of trust,” he said.

According to Fernandes, it is necessary to integrate security to development. He said that in six months it was possible to bring the unarmed leaders of 15 local groups known as 'bases' to the negotiating table (because the armed leaders had been suppressed by the Peace Forces). The leaders, along with the Haiti National Police and the Armed Forces, produced a peace agreement for the reduction of homicides. “For every month that was completed without deaths due to conflict, locals were eligible for a scholarship to be drawn for a local child. 

Fernandes noted that the lemma of the Brazilian Armed Forces, “a strong arm and a hand offered in friendship” is apt. “The problem arises only when the guns come into play. In Rio we have still not learned to dialogue without guns,” said Fernandes.

In Haiti as in Rio

Red Cross representative Silvia Backes said Haiti and Rio are not at war, but that at times the humanitarian situation can be worse than in situations of war, and that the trend is for things to worsen. She explained that the entity, that works in seven shanty town communities in Rio, and in Haiti, dialogues with all the local groups so that help is accepted. According to Silvia, the Red Cross follows the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality, offering aid to all.

“Our actions benefit victims according to their needs. There are no good or bad victims, which means we are not taking sides, we are on the side of life,” she said. She explained that, apart from helping provide medication and medical treatment, a humanitarian mission also has the role of protecting populations from excessive force and violence. She also mentioned that Red Cross vehicles never carry firearms.

“We work closely with the armed forces, but independently, according to each situation. Humanitarian aid cannot be imposed. If we enter a community with a swat team, we will never enter it again,” she said.

Marine corps in peace missions

The Brazilian Naval Corps is present in Haiti since the UN mission began in 2004. The 12th contingent will leave for Haiti January of 2010. According to the general commander of the Marine Corps, the Squadrum Admiral Álvaro Augusto Dias Monteiro, the Brazilian Marine Corps first took part in peace operations in 1965 in the India- Pakistan border, and in the Dominican Republic.

He added that in the 1990s they took part in peace missions in Angola, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Former Yugoslvaia, Macedonia, Mocambique, Nicaragua, the border area between Ruanda and Uganda, and the border between Peru and Equador, they have also participated in the removal of mines from a number of countries in Central America. From the year 2000, the marine corps took part in missions in Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Nepal, the Central African Republic, the Western Sahara, Sudan and in the East Timor.

“Today, over 45% of the marine corps officers have experience in peace operations and each infantry batallion has already completed the full training and pre-departure program at least 3 times. With this invaluable experience and knowledge accumulated over 40 years we intend to share with the university environment, so that the discussion of modern, efficient and creative solutions will allow us to grow and improve in our service,” said the commander when opening the seminar.  

Photos: Marina Lemle

Blog Haiti Ici (in French)

Translated by Lis Horta Moriconi