EXAMINING THE “WEAPONS EFFECT” IN HAITI: The Impact of Small Arms Proliferation on the Civil Society in Port-au-Prince, J. Christopher Kovats-Bernat, Ph.D. Society of Small Arms Scholars & Associate Professor of Anthropology Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA, USA)

A Profile of SALW in Haiti Total Population = 8.5 million Number of Police = 5,000 Estimated Number of SALWs = 209,000 1 gun : 41 people 1 cop : 1,700 people

What are the Most Commonly Used SALWs in Haiti? SMALL ARMS Pistols (.38 and.45 caliber, 9mm) Assault Rifles (M1, M4, M16, AK47) Shotguns (12 gauge, Mossberg) Sub-machineguns (Uzi,.45 Thompson) Machineguns (M60) Long Rifles (.22 caliber) Hand-Delivered Explosives (Molotov Cocktail, IED) Creole and Artisanal Weapons SOURCE: Small Arms Survey (2005), MINUSTAH (2006)

ARMED FACTIONS IN HAITI TODAY STATE MINUSTAH Haitian National Police Police Paramilitaries Palace Guard Ministerial Security Unit Haitian Navy NON-STATE Private Citizens Popular Organizations Youth Gangs Street “Clans” Resistance Front Movements Demobilized Soldiers Dismissed Police Officers Vigilance Brigades Prison Escapees Private Security Armed Street Children Zenglendo

WHERE ARE THE GUNS COMING FROM? * Dismissed Police1, Uprising 3, Partisan Armament4,000 Demobilized Soldiers8,700 US ATF reports 1 in 4 weapons smuggled from Florida are bound for Haiti Seized, illegally-imported weapons traced to more than a dozen countries * Estimates compiled from Small Arms Survey (2005), MINUSTAH (2006)

SOURCE: Small Arms Survey (2005), MINUSTAH (2006) Reported Weapons Collection Activities by US Military, UN Peacekeepers, OAS, and the Haitian National Police: DATE OPERATION TYPE TOTAL WEAPONS COLLECTED TOTAL WEAPONS DESTROYED , 1995, 2002, 2003, 2004 Coercive15,7262, Buyback3,684N/A 2003 Voluntary (Port-au-Prince only) 55 TOTAL 19,4652,435

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT? Community Security compromise of mobility lowered school attendance local market effects restricted access to public services SOURCE: Kovats-Bernat (2006, 2008), UNICEF (2007)

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT? Democratic Process Parliamentary impotence Economic Development US$1.1 billion in aid suspended private investment hindered SOURCE: Kovats-Bernat (2006, 2008)

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT? Degradation of Infrastructure broken water mains destroyed buildings arson hindered sewage and waste removal aborted public works SOURCE: Kovats-Bernat (2006, 2008)

SOURCE: ICRC (2005) TYPOLOGY OF FIREARMS INJURIES BY VOCATION, CANAPE VERT HOSPITAL, PORT-AU-PRINCE (SEPTEMBER 2003 – APRIL 2004) Students 48% Commercial 25% Police 16% Journalists 4% Security 3% Teachers 2% Clergy 1% Doctors 1%

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT? Disproportionate Impact on Children killings woundings gang beatings rape factional recruitment displacement In high gun violence areas, increased rates of: SOURCE: UNICEF 2005 (compiled); Kovats-Bernat (2006, 2008)

A MATTER OF SCARCITY AND SECURITY Gun violence corresponds to scarcity and compromised security: lack of basic physical needs lack of work, land, education lack of “honor” or “respect” lack of equal access to public services lack of a role in political process lack of prestige goods lack of access to brokers of power fear of group annihilation lack of adequate policing / effective justice lack of association with armed group

Case Study in “Weapons Effect”: Street Children in Port-au-Prince and the Sleeping Wars (lagè domi) Sleeping wars are a means of conclusively ending chronic antagonisms that hamper the economic means of both protagonists in the conflict. WHAT IS A SLEEPING WAR? Typically rocks, melted plastic, chunks of concrete, razors or lengths of lumber targeting the feet, knees and legs Fatalities are customarily rare, and killers are traditionally scandalized and marginalized from the street child community to which they belong

Child 1 Child 2 Child 1 Child 2 SLEEPING WAR INITIAL CONFLICT LEADS TO REPEATED AND ESCALATING CLASHES BETWEEN TWO CHILDREN RITUALLY-CONSTRAINED ATTACKS PROCEED IN TIT-FOR-TAT FASHION UNTIL ONE CHILD TERMINATES THE WAR THROUGH “SURRENDER” OR DEATH SLEEPING WAR IS DECLARED