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‘Brutal, repressive’ Haitian Army angers citizens

NZPA-Reuter Cap Haitien, Haiti Anti-government protests spread in Haiti yesterday and a leading Catholic clergyman criticised the armed forces for “brutal and blind repression.”

As the movement to depose President-for-Life Jean-Claude ("Baby Doc”) Duvalier appeared to gain momentum, protesters in the town of Gonaives attacked the courthouse, gutting the building, witnesses said.

Residents of Jeremie, in western Haiti, and Jacmel, on the southern coast, also reported street protests. There were no immediate reports of action by the security forces or of any casualties in those towns.

The capital, Port-au-Prince, one of the poorest cities in the world, has remained quiet. Diplomats say the lack of significant protests there is possibly because the city, largely made up of rural immigrants, lacks the social cohesion of the provinces.

Most of the country was watching Cap Haitien, where anti-Duvalier protests erupted on Monday and continued yesterday. “There’s an old saying here, that when Cap Hai-

tien goes, Haiti goes,” a Western diplomat in the capital said. The protests that erupted in Cap Haitien turned into the biggest demonstrations ever seen in the 28 years of Duvalier rule in Haiti. “Baby Doc” Duvalier took over after the death in 1971 of his father, Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier. With the harbour town totally shut down and eerily quiet yesterday, residents huddled around radios to listen to a message from a Catholic priest, Monsignor Francois Gayot, on a churchrun station.

“We protest strongly against this brutal and blind repression that was carried out against the population of Cap Haitien, particularly its young people,” Monsignor Gayot said.

“Why shoot young innocent people who have nothing to do with any problems? Why deprive families, already so deprived, of their young sons, brothers, or fathers?” he said. The radio audience also heard the father of the slain Adlin Pierre, aged 13, choking back tears, describe how his son was hit in his home yesterday by gunfire from troops or militiamen patrolling the streets. He said the boy had nothing to do with the demonstrations.

Tropical downpours appeared to subdue enthusiasm for street protests yesterday, but groups of youths lingered on street comers and said new protests could break out at any moment. The handful of SUSSO a day ($95) tourist hotels above the town were deserted by all but staff. Most tourists left on Tuesday after several hundred rounds of gunfire were fired by the security forces, mostly in the air.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860130.2.56.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, 30 January 1986, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
408

‘Brutal, repressive’ Haitian Army angers citizens Press, 30 January 1986, Page 8

‘Brutal, repressive’ Haitian Army angers citizens Press, 30 January 1986, Page 8

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