Brasília,5/13/2004(Agência Brasil) – Yesterday the ministers of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, and Defense, José Viegas, testified at a public hearing in Congress on the government's request to send 1,200 soldiers to Haiti as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.

Some congressmen said they were upset by the fact that as they discussed a bill authorizing the mission, the media was reporting that soldiers and equipment were being moved from Rio Grande do Sul to Rio de Janeiro where they would embark on May 19 for Haiti. "It is regrettable that troops are on the move, tanks are being painted and Congress has still not approved sending Brazilian troops to Haiti. Looks like the decision has already been made," said senator Pedro Simon (PMDB-RS).

In their testimony, Amorim and Viegas promised that no soldier would leave Brazil without congressional approval.

Senator Simon warned that caution should be the order of the day for the soldiers, pointing out that they would be substituting other soldiers who have been in Haiti since March.

Other congressmen also expressed the need for caution. "The UN and Brazil are late arrivals, following a military intervention by American, French and Canadian troops. The country is in a state of political and economic chaos. There is no guarantee that Brazilian soldiers will be seen as peacemakers. Their lives could be in danger. They could be seen as an occupying force," warned deputy Ivan Valente (PT-SP).

A congressional vote on the request to send troops to Haiti is expected today.

Translator: Allen Bennett