June 09, 2005
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee today offered the Haiti Arms Report amendment to bring attention to the potential violation of the U.S. arms embargo to Haiti and the administration’s approval of arms sales, transfers and license approval to U.S. private companies. Lee received bipartisan support for the amendment which requires full disclosure from the State Department on weapons in Haiti and called on the administration to reconsider the current practice of arming the Haitian National Police (HNP) as the House International Relations Committee took up the State Department Authorization bill today.
“Just last year, the Bush Administration approved a transfer of nearly 3000 weapons to the Haitian National Police,” said Lee. “If the goal is to create an environment of security and safety in Haiti, the United States cannot be complicit in arming the very criminals responsible for raping, murdering and torturing hundreds of Haitians.”
The Lee Haiti Arms Report requires an immediate report of all arms transfers, sales and licensing by the State Department. The report will cover transactions from the date of the embargo, October 4, 1991 to 2005.
“This amendment is about education and accountability. Currently, the Bush Administration is set to approve over $1.7 million worth of licenses to Grifon Inc. to sell 3,000 .38 caliber revolvers, 500 9mm pistols, 500 12 gauge combat shotguns, 200 Mini-14 rifles and Bushmaster to sell 100 M4 carbines to the Haiti National Police, Government of Haiti,” said Lee. “I have no faith that these guns will be used to help Haiti or Haitians.”
The measure offered by Lee, the senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee, was approved unanimously in the committee.
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Barbara Lee Haiti Arms Amendment included in State Department Authorization bill
Amendment will require State Department to shed light on weapons transactions from the U.S. to Haiti
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee today offered the Haiti Arms Report amendment to bring attention to the potential violation of the U.S. arms embargo to Haiti and the administration’s approval of arms sales, transfers and license approval to U.S. private companies. Lee received bipartisan support for the amendment which requires full disclosure from the State Department on weapons in Haiti and called on the administration to reconsider the current practice of arming the Haitian National Police (HNP) as the House International Relations Committee took up the State Department Authorization bill today.
“Just last year, the Bush Administration approved a transfer of nearly 3000 weapons to the Haitian National Police,” said Lee. “If the goal is to create an environment of security and safety in Haiti, the United States cannot be complicit in arming the very criminals responsible for raping, murdering and torturing hundreds of Haitians.”
The Lee Haiti Arms Report requires an immediate report of all arms transfers, sales and licensing by the State Department. The report will cover transactions from the date of the embargo, October 4, 1991 to 2005.
“This amendment is about education and accountability. Currently, the Bush Administration is set to approve over $1.7 million worth of licenses to Grifon Inc. to sell 3,000 .38 caliber revolvers, 500 9mm pistols, 500 12 gauge combat shotguns, 200 Mini-14 rifles and Bushmaster to sell 100 M4 carbines to the Haiti National Police, Government of Haiti,” said Lee. “I have no faith that these guns will be used to help Haiti or Haitians.”
The measure offered by Lee, the senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee, was approved unanimously in the committee.
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