BY MURDITH JOSEPH
https://haitiantimes.com/
Tribute to the fallen police officer, forever remembered for their bravery and dedication on January 26, 2023. Photo: Marvens Compere
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Several cities awoke Thursday under high tension after at least six police officers were killed in Liancourt by armed bandits the previous night. Both uniformed and plainclothes law enforcement officers staged protests and stormed the official residence of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Among other things, they are calling for a change in management.
“Police keep on being murdered while nothing is done by the highest government authorities to put an end to it,” said Lionel Lazarre, general coordinator of the national union of Haitian police officers ( SYNAPOHA) in an interview with Haitian Times. “On January 20, at least 4 police officers lost their lives. Six days later, seven others were murdered and no concrete action is being taken to prevent it from happening again.”
Barricades of burning tires, cars parked across the road, heavy gunfire, police coming and going from place to place on motorcycles, police officers supported by the population mobilized in several neighborhoods as part of their protest movement.
In anger, several officers ransacked Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s residence. Surveillance cameras, windows and windshields of vehicles were damaged, among other things. They then left the scene.
The officers criticize Henry for not having taken any steps to provide the Haitian National Police (PNH) with the means to deal with armed gangs.
In addition, protesters went to the vicinity of Toussaint Louverture International Airport to prevent access to the Prime Minister, who was to return to the country today from a trip to Argentina.
In the neighborhoods of Delmas, Pétion-ville, Pernier and Bourdon, the city center in the metropolitan area of Portau-Prince, the roads were blocked by the protesters. Heavy gunfire was also heard in these areas. A situation that has led school officials to interrupt classes to return the children to their parents. Distraught, the latter wanted to recover their children.
Gonaïves and St-Marc also protested the frequent killings of police officers. In fury, members of the population moved massively towards the premises of the DDA / PNH at the level of the City of Independence. This, in order to demand from the police authorities an urgent and appropriate response to the barbaric acts committed by the bandits of ‘BAZ GRANGRIF’ in Savien. In Saint-Marc, people identified as police officers also closed the offices of the public administration.
“The high-ranking officers of the PNH and the members of the government must take decisions for the protection of the police officers to calm the situation and to prevent that the things do not worsen” also declared Lazarre who says in the name of the trade union to support any movement which aims improv-ing the living and working conditions of police officers. However, he invites them to continue the movement calmly so as not to be infiltrated by individuals who would like to take advantage of it to solve their political problems.
Meanwhile, in the streets of Port-au-Prince and in several media, some have announced that the “509 ghosts” will be back. Information that the coordinator of the national union of Haitian police officers could not confirm or deny.
Phantom 509 is a group of police who demanded better conditions for the police, mainly by organizing strong and spontaneous protest movements. These police officers during these movements always had their faces hooded.
They were accused by President Jovenel Moïse of terrorizing the population.
While the movements continue, police officers even handed over their badges at the Pernier police station.
PNH has not made any statements yet to address the protests and the killings.
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