PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The United Nations knowledgeable on human rights in Haiti, William O’Neill, says he’s “extraordinarily alarmed” on the determination of the Dominican Republic to fully shut the land, air, and sea borders with Haiti final Friday as the 2 international locations that make up the Caribbean island of Hispaniola proceed to be at odds over the development of an irrigation canal in Haiti.
“I urge the federal government to rethink its determination, which can significantly affect folks on either side of the border. I additional urge each governments to return to the negotiating desk and observe the method outlined by the Joint Declaration of Could 27, 2021, to resolve this dispute peacefully,” O’Neill mentioned.
He mentioned that on the Haitian facet, the affect will likely be much more dire.
“Because of the insecurity and gang violence in Haiti, many important merchandise like meals, medical gear, and medicines are imported from the Dominican Republic,” he mentioned, noting that
Haiti receives not less than 25 p.c of its meals from the Dominican Republic.
“Many faculties within the border space buy the meals they use to offer lunch to their college students. Entry to water can even be additional hindered. I urge the Dominican Republic to permit the supply of all types of humanitarian help and important items to Haiti to keep away from additional exacerbating an already grave disaster that particularly endangers probably the most weak, together with kids and the aged.”
However the Dominica Republic Ministry of International Affairs mentioned the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation “categorically reject O’Neill’s biased and unlucky statements.
“To start with, we reaffirm that any dialogue with Haiti is conditional on the efficient cessation of the unilateral and unlawful canal development on the Dajabón River. The joint declaration of Could 27, 2021, to which Mr. O’Neill refers, was based mostly on this situation,” it mentioned.
It additionally mentioned that it had taken observe of the request to permit the supply of humanitarian support to Haiti, “however reiterated that the rapid and definitive resolution to this downside is within the arms of Haiti when it decides to finish development of the canal.
On Sunday, President Luis Abinader defended his determination, saying that the border closure will proceed till the canal’s development is suspended.
Water from the canal comes from the Bloodbath River, which flows between the 2 international locations.
“We neither want nor search confrontation, however we’re confronted with uncontrollable individuals who keep insecurity in Haiti and who, due to their personal pursuits, at the moment are additionally conspiring in opposition to the soundness of their authorities and the safety of our assets in water,” he mentioned, including ‘this isn’t a battle between two peoples, as a result of neither the Dominican folks nor the Haitian folks need confrontation.”
Final weekend, Haiti mentioned that as a sovereign nation, it can resolve on the “exploitation of its pure assets.
“The Republic of Haiti will at all times favor dialogue; dialogue which was underway and on observe between the Haitian delegation, duly mandated, with their Dominican counterparts of the Binational Fee, on the Dominican Chancellery, within the Dominican Republic, when the announcement of the Dominican President to shut its borders was made,” the federal government mentioned in an announcement.
Port au Prince mentioned it has, just like the Dominican Republic, with which it shares the Bloodbath River, “the complete proper to take catches there, by the 1929 settlement.
O’Neil mentioned he urged each international locations to share all related info on the water desk, hydrological research, environmental impacts, and different info outlined within the Could 2021 Joint Assertion to realize a peaceable and fast finish to this disaster.
“If such an settlement can’t be reached, I encourage each events to conform to a global arbitration to resolve their variations,” he added.
The Dominican Ministry of International Affairs mentioned it’s important to make clear that it’s untimely to talk of worldwide arbitration “when there is no such thing as a battle between two governments since Haitian personal actors generated the disaster.”
It mentioned the safety disaster can be affecting the flexibility of the Haitian authorities to implement the rule of legislation.
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