Nobel Laureate: Haiti pres's army plan an "error" (AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ? Nobel Laureate Oscar Arias is advising Haitian President Michel Martelly that it would be an "error" for him to restore the army.

The two-time president of Costa Rica tells Martelly in a letter delivered Monday that militaries in the region have a long record of quashing democratic values. Arias adds that the $25 million Martelly has proposed for the new force should be invested in education, health and other areas.

The Haitian army was disbanded in 1995 because of its history of abuse.

Martelly said he wants to revive the force to patrol the nation's borders, protect the environment and respond to natural disasters.

Arias' assistant, Lina Barrantes, said the letter was delivered to Haiti's presidential offices.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111206/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_new_army

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