protest - Haiti Observer Blog

Lawyers in Haiti have had enough! Following the arrest of their fellow, Andre Michel, a move many deem as unlawful, Haiti's robed workforce descended upon the streets like a flock of avenging angels to protest his arrest and also to demand the revocation of the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, Francisco René. And they may have been quite right to, if reports as to the suspected nature of the arrest, severely unrepresented by the official arrest record, are to be believed.

For the Commissioner's part, his action of arresting Michel for what is described as a minor traffic infraction was motivated by the current Administration's wish to censor the lawyer who has been very active in cases filed against the government. As such, some of the protesters, unnamed, vocally and harshly criticized the Executive Body and the Minister of Justice, Jean Renel Sanon.

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As this new wave of protest against Michel Martelly are getting stronger and stronger, it helps to do some analysis of the situation. Have you noticed that in Haiti there has always been a movement to get ride of the government? Based on my analysis, Haiti political landscape has three basic stages: a) The "Election of the New Leader" period, b) The "Honeymoon" Period, c) The "Rache Manyok" period.

Let's take the period of the "Election of New Leader". This is usually a tense period where the major players are using all kind of tricks to control the election. On the other side, since the population is aware of that, they pay close attention to detail and are ready at any moment to take to the street.

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This is the video of the confrontation last week between Haitian Police and members of the opposition to which Mirlande Manigat of the NPDRwas taking part of. The objective of the protest was to demand the release of Florestal brothers from prison and the end of proceedings against the lawyer André Michel.

Also present at the demonstration was Arnel Belizaire (Delmas / Tabarre).

After some unsuccessful attempt to negotiate with Mirlande Manigat, the police dispersed the manifestants with tear gas

Here is the video:

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The former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide is still a force in Haitian politic. If you were not convinced, the public demonstration from his supports today will probably change your mind.

According to the latest report, thousands of Jean Bertrand Aristide supporters took to the streets to support their leader as he appeared in public for the first time since returning from exile. The leader of the Fanmi Lavalas Party was summoned by Haitian Judge Yvickel Dabresil in regard to the unsolved assassination of the famous Haitian journalist Jean Léopold Dominique and his guard. Jean Bertrand Aristide was accompanied by several elected officials such as Moise Jean Charles, John Joel Joseph, MP Saurel hyacinth and others.

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Lack of Basic Services Drives Violent Protests

In Haiti violent protests are a way of life. Haiti, a small island, is home to a population of only 10 million, indicating just how desperate Haitians are to get basic services. Violent protests happen many times in small and larger villages across Haiti.

Typically, protestors set tire-fires in streets, obstruct traffic with rocks, toppled-over cars, and garbage cans, and destroy property. Regrettably, such protests regularly come under fire from three categories of people.

The government of Haiti is usually not in position to help the population. It takes acts of desperation by Haitians to get the Government to pave a road, supply electricity, or distribute food to them.

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The situation in the City of Jeremie has not improved. In fact, it has gotten worst.

We just learned today (November 30, 2012) that new clashes between security forces and protesters in Jeremie have left one confirmed dead and several people wounded.

A 33 year old man, Wilder Beloved, was killed by an agent of the Motorized Intervention Brigade (BIM). The body of the victim was brought to the home of the government commissioner of Jeremie by the protesting crowd and left there after protesters ransacked the home.

The new force came in town to establish order in the city after several days of protests by the population. For the past three days, the population of Jeremie has been protesting, demanding the resumption of road construction work joining Cayes - Jeremie by OAS Company.

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The population of the city of Jeremie is out on the streets this Wednesday, November 28, 2012. They are setting Barricades in the streets, blocking traffics and setting tires on fire.

They are protesting against the abandonment of the construction work by the construction company OAS. The road work joining the cities of Cayes and Jérémie has been stopped for several months.

The protest started yesterday. Schools and majorities of business are close. Some arrests have been made. Many people are injured with. The local police has not been able to manage the crowd so far.

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Haiti has historically been besieged by violent upheavals against its governing systems. Securing independence from its status as a slave possession in 1801, ex-slave Toussaint Louverture led the Haitian Revolution, making a conquest of Haiti, and naming himself Governor-General.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines succeeded Louverture in 1804, ruling until his assassination in 1806. Haiti then became a black-dominated northern region and mulatto elite-governed southern region. In 1915, the U.S. began occupying Haiti as a result of another conflict between mulatto elites and blacks. The U.S., concerned about its business interests, stayed until 1934.

When U.S. occupation ended, coup d'etats and provisional presidencies marked the period 1934-1971, until dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier came to office. By 1986, mass uprisings against Duvalier forced him into exile. Henri Namphy, lieutenant general in the Haitian Army, became president after Duvalier's exit.

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On Monday, November 13, 2012 Haitian students continued their demonstration over the death of one of their owns. This was the third day of non stop protest, where students are demanding justice for the death of Damael d'Haiti, a student shot and killed by a police officer over the weekend at the School of Law and Social Sciences in Port-au-Prince.

"En Ayiti, Jistis Se moun Ki Ba Tet ou Sa..."

Haitian police and CIMO surrendering the protesters, blocked their exit from the law school, and fired tear gas. It has been reported that many people were affected by the gas. Children returning from school as well as other people going about their activities were affected.

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A case involving the death of a State University of Haiti student has moved forward with the indictment of National Penitentiary Administration agent Pierre Paul Maceus. Government Commissioner Me Lucmane Delile headed the indictment, saying that there is enough evidence showing Maceus' involvement with the death of 4th year student Damael D'Haiti during an event conducted by the Faculty of Law and Economics. Maceus is a young officer who was also a student at the university. According to previous reports, Pierre Paul Maceus was at the event too and had an encounter with the victim. Delile, however, said that the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police has yet to recover the weapon used to kill D'Haiti.

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