Weekly Report - 15 December 2011 (WR-11-50)

HAITI | New security minister. President Michel Martelly has filled the vacancy left by Josué Pierre-Louis, who was forced to resign his post as minister of justice and public safety in November amid a backlash following his ordering of the arrest of an opposition deputy, Arnel Belizaire [WR-11-48]. Michel Brunache, who was secretary of state for foreign affairs, has been named as Pierre-Louis’s replacement. Brunache served as chief-of-staff under the former interim president Boniface Alexandre (2004-2006), who took over after the ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Brunache comes in amid the debate over Martelly’s controversial proposal to re-establish the Haitian military: the US, Canada and other countries are calling for Martelly to bolster the police instead. A new civilian commission will present its recommendations regarding Martelly’s proposal on 1 January.