Enough with the "looting" stories...

[bcholmes]

The Canada Haiti Action Network is deeply concerned about the militarization of the relief efforts in Haiti and exaggerated reporting of 'looting’ and violence. This increases the danger of violent treatment of the victims of the earthquake.

"Officials and many media reports are focusing excessively on the supposed unlawfulness of Haitians,” says one of the group’s representatives in Toronto , Niraj Joshi. "But starving and traumatized people who take food and water from destroyed stores should not be depicted as criminals. We fear that such demonization may lead to violent responses by military forces."

Many poor neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince have yet to see any assistance. Yet reports from CHAN’s colleagues and friends say that human solidarity and a calm determination to survive prevail throughout the earthquake zone. This is also what many international news agencies are reporting.

Meanwhile, Canada's emergency relief teams have been sent home, told they will not be deployed. "Like Washington , Ottawa has prioritized sending its military to Haiti over disaster relief", explained Roger Annis, a spokesperson for the network in Vancouver . "Are Canadians comfortable with that choice? We ask the government, what is the purpose of the strong show of military strength?

"Earthquake victims need food, water, medical treatment and shelter, not more guns pointed at them."

— "Canadian & US Military should not treat victims of Haiti's earthquake like enemy combatants"