Haiti's Sixth Week of Protests: 30 Protesters Have Died

Haiti is about to live its sixth consecutive week of protests and total paralysis of activities, and mobilizations convened by the main unions of teachers and religious leaders. According to a United Nations count, at least 30 people have died at the demonstrations, 15 at the hands of the police.

The country has been the scene of daily mobilizations against its president Moise since September 16, due to the delicate economic situation and the political crisis that has made it impossible to form a government since last March.

The last mass concentration happened last Sunday in Port-au-Prince, where a massive protest was held, which generally happened peacefully, while several protesters have been injured when accidentally hit by a vehicle and one person lost his life by a bullet launched from a police vehicle.

Some of the organizers have been artists, including rapper Izolan, of the Barikad Crew group, as well as by the religious leader Mackenson Dorilas, nicknamed Prophet Mackenson, to demand the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, charging his inability to govern and direct the country.

In this last day of massive protest, in addition, with the demonstration about to conclude, the brakes of Prophet Mackenson’s vehicle failed because of fuel covering the Petion-ville road, running over a group of people who were transferred to a hospital.

Groups of Petrochallengers (activists) such as Challengers Populaires, Nou Pap Konplis and Nou Pap Dòmi, marched this Sunday to demand the resignation of the head of state in a mobilization where many attendees wore white T-shirts, and carried plates and spoons in their hands while performing songs and chanting slogans.

Haitians point out the inability to continue living the way they live, and although the country has been trapped for years in cycles of political and economic dysfunction, many Haitians say the current crisis is worse than anything they have experienced.

Lives that were already extremely difficult, here in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, have become even more so, unbridled corruption and economic unrest have led to rising prices, a disintegration of public services and a disconcerting atmosphere of insecurity and illegality.

Source URL: ContraHegemoniaWeb

Translated by JRE/EF