Early on Monday, gangs rampaged through two affluent neighborhoods in the capital of Haiti, killing at least a dozen people in the process.
At dawn, gunmen ransacked and looted homes in Laboule and Thomassin, forcing people to escape while some begged for police on radio stations. Even though there had been an increase in violent gang attacks in Port-au-Prince starting on February 29, the neighborhoods had stayed relatively calm.
The bodies of at least twelve men were discovered scattered throughout the streets of Pétionville, which is situated under the hilly settlements of Laboule and Thomassin, by an Associated Press photographer.
People started congregating around the victims. One was discovered face down inside a pickup truck, and the other was found face up on the street amid a strewn deck of cards.
At one of the situations, a woman broke down and needed help from others after she found out that one of her relatives had died.
“Abuse! One Haitian man, who wished to remain anonymous, exclaimed, “This is abuse!” as he lifted his arms and stepped close to one of the victims. “Haitian people! Awaken! Not long later, an ambulance pulled into Pétionville and began gathering up the victims.
Douce Titi, a municipal employee, stated, “We woke up this morning to find dead in the roadway in our hamlet of Pétionville.” It is not the type of community we live in. Before the kids start going by to go to school and the vendors start setting up shop, we will begin working to remove those bodies. It was too late for some, though. A relative of one of the victims hugged a young boy close to his chest, with his head turned away from the scene.
Notwithstanding Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s announcement almost a week ago that he would step down once a transitional presidential council is established—a move that gangs had been demanding—the most recent attacks heightened fears that gang violence would not end.
Gangs in Haiti have opposed President Henry, accusing him of deepening poverty and attempting to seize power. Haiti’s power company destroyed four substations, leaving parts of Port-au-Prince without power. Criminals seized important documents and cables. Caribbean leaders are helping create a transitional council, but political parties are still squabbling over nominations. A U.N.-backed Kenyan police force is delayed until the council is established. Haiti’s government extends a nighttime curfew until March 20.
(AP)
