By Dady Chery

Haiti Chery

Haitian proverb:

“Dèyè mòn, genyen mòn.”
(Behind mountains hide more mountains.)

Haiti’s most populous cities erupted in marches, sit-ins, strikes, and barricades throughout the month of September. This revolt began with the teachers during the first week of September. By Monday, September 10, the country’s educators were demonstrating — not only in Port-au-Prince, but also in Jeremie, Saint-Marc, and other towns — for better work conditions, work contracts, and a minimum salary of 50,000 gourdes ($1,162) per month. They have been joined by virtually all sectors of the population. Some areas of the country remain more or less in a state of continuous protest against human rights abuses, soaring food prices, 80 per cent unemployment, crashing agriculture, government corruption and racism, and many other ills. Nationwide protests are planned on World Teachers’ Day – WTD 2012, Friday October 5.

Capital city of Port-au-Prince (Southwest)

Tuesday, September 11 march

Protesters with plates, spoons and forks marched to Port-au-Prince’s Bicentennaire Plaza to clang about their hunger to the Prime Minister and charge him with incompetence.

In this capital city where the majority of the earthquake’s homeless live and more are displaced daily from their homes for what they say are government-sanctioned land grabs, the protesters denounced programs like “Aba grangou” (down with hunger), “Ti manman cheri” (darling little mother), and “Katye pam poze” (my neighborhood is peaceful) as having done nothing much.

One interviewed protester said:

“You cannot ask someone to sweep the streets, give him a pittance every month and then think you’re going to help him live better.”

A 40 per cent hike in food prices since May has been blamed on everything except the government’s policy of neglecting local agriculture while allowing the market to be flooded with subsidized agricultural goods from the United States. For a while Tropical Storm Isaac was a convenient villain. On Monday Trade Minister Wilson Laleau brought up the overseas summer droughts. His greatest concern however, was not the looming famine but the possibility of food riots, as happened in 2008.

Terminated state employees marched the next day to demand better living conditions and 36 months of back pay.

The following week, on Thursday September 20, there was no indication of a march in Port-au-Prince, although one had been scheduled. Is one to believe that protests were held in Haiti nearly every day the past two weeks except on the birthday of Independence Hero Jean-Jacques Dessalines? Here is how it was done. The Haitian government arrested a few journalists, and the rest focused on their colleagues, leaving the protest uncovered. A similar tactic of arresting journalists was used to deflect reports of massive protests on Haiti’s Flag Day, May 18, earlier this year.

Some results of the activism

Government Chief Prosecutor Jean Renel Senatus was dismissed from his post on Thursday September 27, without explanation. Mr. Senatus was better known as “Komise zokiki” (commissioner of teen night-clubbing) by the population because he seemed more interested in thwarting night-clubbing teens than fighting serious crime.

Sunday September 30 Lavalas march

An estimated 10,000 to 30,000 people responded to Lavalas’ call to protest against the Martelly regime on the occasion of the first bloody (about 3,000 to 5,000 killed) coup against Aristide seven months after he took office. Protesters marched from the La Saline neighborhood to Saint Jean Bosco, circling the city.

Among the protesters’ slogans:

“Pèp la paka manjé, n’ap voyé’w alé!”
(The people cannot eat, we’re kicking you out!)

“Aba MINUSTAH! Aba UN! Aba Michel Matéli! Aba Loran Lamot! Aba Sofya Matéli! Nou pa vlé moun klè sou pouvwa ou péyi 95 pousan moun nwa!
(Down with MINUSTAH! Down with UN! Down with Michel Martelly! Down with Laurent Lamothe! Down with Sophia Martelly! We don’t want mulattoes ruling a 95 per cent black country!)

“Di Obama, di Obama kenbé kakal la!”
(Tell Obama, tell Obama to keep his shit!)

Several lawmakers accompanied the protesters, including MP Arnel Belizaire, Senator Moise Jean-Charles (North), Senator Francky Exius (South), former Senators Louis Gerald Gilles and Turneb Delpe, and former Senator, Minister of Justice and INITE Party leader Paul Denis.

VIDEO: Lavalas protest on Sunday, September 30, 2012 (Courtesy: frantzetienne1).

Second largest city, Cap Haitien (North)

Wednesday, September 12 march

Thousands of protesters, including the region’s Senator Moises Jean-Charles and over 20 popular organizations, marched on Wednesday, September 12 to call for Martelly’s resignation and accuse him of cronyism.

The population was especially angry about Martelly’s appointment of Gaby Silencieux as Deputy Commissioner for the Limbe District in the Northern Department despite Mr. Silencieux being wanted by police for murder and arson.

Martelly and his North Department Delegate Yvon Alteon were also accused of being in league with a land-grabbing family in the Petit Anse area that claims to be related to 19th-century Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer and to own the titles to one third of the city. The family has threatened to evict thousands from the neighborhoods of Lafossette, Chada I and II.

Land prices in the north have skyrocketed because of the anticipated arrival of foreign mining personnel. A tactic of withholding city services is being used throughout Haiti to discourage people from living in some areas. For example, the northern cities of Cap Haitien and Gonaives have had no municipal water for months due to sabotage. In addition sugar-cane and rum production, an important industry in Cap Haitien that employed thousands, has been under attack since two years from a systematic dumping of imported ethanol. More than 12 distilleries have shut down.

A sit-in on the Cathedral Square followed on Thursday, September 13 to protest against the general deterioration of living conditions and the hunger brought on by the hike in food prices. This event was organized by l’Organisation du Peuple en Lutte (Organization of Peoples for Struggle, OPL) political party, headed by Eluscar Charles. Protesters conducted a symbolic trial of members of the government and demanded that Martelly and his team show what they have done.

Simultaneously in nearby Leogane, protesters blocked National Highway No. 2, charged the Martelly-appointed municipal council with incompetence and called for transparency in the public works on the Rouyonne River.

Friday, September 21 march

On the eve of this new protest in the “City of Christophe” the tense atmosphere led most residents to stay off the streets after dark. Gunshots resonated in the Chada neighborhood, and three individuals were injured: two by bullet wounds. Angry residents threw rocks and bottles at the police (PNH) injuring one policeman.

On Friday morning, commercial banks closed early, and transportation slowed to a crawl as many thousands took to the streets.

Among the protesters were:

• Former member of Parliament Eddy “Briguel” Jean Pierre,
• Former Mayor Fritz Joseph,
• Initiative Citoyenne party representative Gary Denis,
• Organisation du Peuple en Lutte party northern representative Elusca Charles together with former candidates Carly Eugene et Pierrot Augustin,
• Lavalas activist Remy Saint-Juste.

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Marchers brandished red cards and shouted:

“Aba Mateli ak koripsyon!”
(Down with Martelly and corruption!)

“Aba grangou rose!”
(Down with pink hunger!)

a reference to Martelly and his men wearing pink, and his election promise of a pink life.

“Resous peyi a sé pou tout Ayisyen!”
(The country’s resources for all Haitians!)

and other slogans expressing their deep anger about the incompetence and cronyism of the central government, soaring food prices, land grabs, and general disregard for human rights.

Some results

Ardoin Zephirin was named the new North Department Delegate on Monday September 24. He replaced Yvon Alteon, who was in the U.S. for his health and had been accused of colluding with a land-grabbing family in the Petit Anse area. Antonio Jules was named the new Vice-Delegate for Cap-Haitien.

Thursday, September 27 march

Despite an invasion of the city by Martelly’s “pink” army of paramilitaries, and a siege of the more activist neighborhoods, thousands more took to the streets on Thursday September 27 to call for an end to the Martelly-Lamothe regime.

When the protesters tried to conclude their march in Vertieres — site of the final battle for Independence — the police made four arrests. Together with the six people arrested last week and still not released, this brings to 10 the number of Cap Haitien protesters incarcerated.

Many of the regions’ prominent politicians, including Senator Moise Jean-Charles and former MP Hugue Celestin, took part in the protests. Sen. Jean-Charles, an organizer, warned that democracy is under threat. He said:

“We are no longer marching about the high cost of living…. Now we want the president to go.”

Sen Jean-Charles had announced a general strike in Cap Haitien for Monday October 1 to call for Martelly’s resignation; however the strike was cancelled at the last minute due to threats of violence from Martelly’s people.

Third largest city, Les Cayes (South)

Thursday, September 13 general strike

Throughout the city, on Wednesday, September 12 tracts were circulated that read

“Ensekirite Aba! Aba lavi chè! Aba koripsyon medyokrite ak-nan gouvènman Mately ak Lamot!”
(Down with insecurity! Down with price hikes! Down with the corruption and mediocrity of the Martelly-Lamothe government!)

in anticipation of a strike to protest rising food prices, arbitrary changes to the city’s judiciary by the central government, and increasing acts of banditry that are tolerated or instigated by police. Last June, for example, the city’s main radio station Radio Monopole was burned to the ground in an act of arson.

On Thursday, according to organizers and monitors on the ground, over 75 per cent to 90 per cent of the population observed a general strike. Until early afternoon, formal and informal trades were paralyzed. Gas stations, commercial banks, stores, and public markets were closed, leaving the streets empty.

During a midday conference, organizer Gabriel Fortune said:

“Apart from the transport sector, which operated at 60 per cent, all other sectors, including private business have kept their word.”

Mr. Fortune is a former senator and departmental delegate who previously supported Mr. Martelly and has become one of his major opponents.

After a debate on Radio-Télé Caramel’ s “Face-to-Face” television program between Mr. Fortune and Secretary of State for Communication Joseph Guyler C. Delva, the latter required a police escort to leave the station as a hostile crowd hurled anti-government insults at him like “defender of the devil.”

As in Port-au-Prince, the protesters in Aux Cayes denounced programs like “Ti manman cheri” (darling little mother) and said they were not implemented. According to the organizers, this protest was merely “a warning strike”, and more actions will follow if nothing gets accomplished.

Some results

First Circuit Court Dean Pierre Vaval Ezekiel and Government Commissioner Jean-Marie Solomon, returned to their respective posts in Les Cayes’ local government on Wednesday, September 19 after the government failed in its attempt to displace them. They thanked the people for having mobilized to enforce the law and called on their colleagues to do their work fairly to maintain the support of the citizenry. Madame Jean-Julien who had arrived from Anse-à-Veau to replace Pierre Vaval Ezekiel, quietly left town.

Wednesday-Friday, September 19-21 protests

Cayes’ teachers and their unions took to the streets on Wednesday, September 19 to demand better work conditions, several years of back pay, plus a minimum monthly salary of 50,000 gourdes ($1,162). Protesters included Movement by Educators to Renew Haiti’s Education System coordinator Jean Jose Delva, and national teachers’ union speakers Josue Merilien (UNNOH) and Prof. Iverlt Jean-Louis (UNEH).

On Thursday evening and Friday morning (September 20-21), the city spontaneously erupted in protest against a call by the central government for the removal of Departmental Delegate Etienne France and the appointment of a new Departmental Delegate for the South. Tires burned on the streets.

In nearby Miragoane (also in the south), hundreds took to the streets on Friday, September 21 to protest against unemployment and the rising cost of living and call for an end to the Martelly-Lamothe regime.

What is being done?

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe excused himself from a Friday September 14 meeting with the Chamber of Deputies because he was too busy.  The meeting had been scheduled to address issues raised in the protest. Instead the Prime Minister announced the formation of a Commission for Price Stabilization and the acceptance of a Japanese gift of 288,000 30-kg sacs of rice. This amounts to about 9,500 tons, or about a week’s consumption (seven times Haiti daily consumption of about 1,300 tons); moreover, the arrangements for donation of the rice date back to March of this year.

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Jean Mario Dupuy announced plans to celebrate Summer’s end with a Disc Jokeys (DJ) parade that will be the year’s third carnival (after those of Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince). Minister Dupuy says he does not expect a single day to change the reality of Haiti’s situation, but such difficulties cannot force one to abandon one’s culture.

The following week, legislators once again invited PM Laurent Lamothe to a meeting, this time for Friday September 21. Instead, that afternoon, on Scoop FM, Mr. Lamothe qualified the day’s protests in several cities as the actions of “political agitators” and “mercenaries.” He elaborated that “A mercenary is someone who receives money to create problems and to destabilize.”

The most serious response to the popular protests so far has been the announcement by Haiti’s Social Affairs Minister of an increase of the minimum wage for assembly work to 87 cents per hour, effective October 1. This scandalously low minimum wage is strongly opposed by Haiti’s garment sector. Will Haiti’s friends of Clinton and rich sweatshop owners honor the minimum wage hike? Friday October 5 is not only World Teachers’ Day but also the country’s first payday on the new minimum wage.

Sources: Haiti Chery | News Junkie Post