SA to take arms to Haiti
2004-02-28 09:07
Erika Gibson
Pretoria - A South African air force plane will leave for Haiti early next week to support the country's government.
The Boeing 747 is expected to leave as early as Tuesday morning after Police requested the flight.
On board the plane would be 5 000 bullets, 200 smoke grenades and 200 bullet-proof vests, according to a document in local newspaper Beeld's possession.
In South African terms, R-1 rifles are old-fashioned, but according to specialists, they are similar the French FN-rifles still being used by Haiti police.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa could neither confirm or deny reports, as Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was in Brazil and out of reach on a cellphone.
Bheki Khumalo of the Presidency was also unaware of the request.
Senior Superintendent Sally de Beer, spoekesperson for Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, denied that South African policemen would be sent to Haiti.
Selebi was "busy with official duties" and couldn't be reached.
The government was recently lambasted for donating R10m to Haiti for the 200th anniversary of the island's "first black republic".
When a high-placed delegation, led by President Thabo Mbeki, attended the celebrations, resentment was already growing against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government. His human rights record was being questioned.
After the visit, the South African government undertook to help train Haiti's police force in crowd control.
From Haiti is has been alleged that South Africa is providing Aristide's police force with arms and equipment. These allegations have been denied.
The Boeing 747 can carry 200 passengers but can also partially or completely turned into a cargo plane.
Aristide requested the international community on Friday to help restore order after rebels announced that they would attack the capital Port au Prince.
- Beeld