Large Crowds Mark 1991 Coup Anniversary in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
Sep 30, 2014, 5:35 PM ET
Associated Press
Haiti Coup Anniversary
A large crowd of supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched Tuesday through the capital on the anniversary of a 1991 military coup that ousted the country's first democratically elected leader.
Thousands of supporters tried to march from the church where Aristide led services as a Catholic priest to his house. But police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse them before they arrived at the home.
The march marked the date that the military ousted Aristide less than a year into his first term as president. It comes amid fears he will be arrested for failing to heed a court summons to testify in a corruption case.
An investigative judge issued an arrest warrant in August after the former president did not attend a hearing looking into allegations that include money laundering during his time in office. Aristide's lawyer has said the summons was not properly served and he has sought to quash the warrant.
Haitian police have been stationed outside the walls of Aristide's home but so far have not moved to carry out the warrant.
The former president, who was ousted again in a violent rebellion in 2004, has rarely ventured outside his home since returning from exile in South Africa in 2011.
Big demonstration Fanmi Lavalas
01/10/2014 13:38:07
Haiti--On Tuesday, the event organized by Fanmi Lavalas to mark the 23rd anniversary of the coup of September 30, 1991 and to show solidarity with Jean Bertrand Aristide, was dispersed near the residence of the former Head of State.
The event began at about 10:30 am, before the church of St Jean Bosco, to the call of political opposition groups, supervised by a heavy security, walked down the Boulevard La Saline, Cite Soleil, Delmas 18, 33, Gerald Bataille, Claircine until Carrefour Fleuriot.
On several occasions, the protesters, whose numbers continued to grow, were forced to change their route, especially at the crossroads of the airport to move towards Delmas 33, they were then several thousand. The police tried to explain them these changes of course due to the procession of the Prime Minister that was coming that way...
Accompanied by a musical float and several rara bands, protesters waving branches, flags and posters bearing the image of Aristide, demanding the departure of President Martelly, denouncing the political persecution of those in power against their leader, who is the subject of an arrest warrant and house arrest, accusing the Executive to wish to perform partisan elections.
At crossroad Rita, the agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) have blocked access to the road Clercine, to the demonstrators who tried to go to Tabarre. The agents of the Corps of Intervention and of Maintenance of Order (CIMO) and the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of Order (UDMO) have used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some of them did not hesitate to retaliate by launching stones at the security forces.
In addition, dozens of Aristide supporters gathered at the entrance of the residence of the former President in solidarity, were dispersed by police, who used water cannon.
André Fadot, the coordinator of the "National Movement of Popular Opposition" (MONOP) denounced the brutal behavior of the security forces, a sign, according to him, the willingness of those in power to restore the dictatorship in the country.
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| Haitian man demonstrates in support of former President Jean Bertrande Aristide. |
Sep 30, 2014, 5:35 PM ET
Associated Press
Haiti Coup Anniversary
A large crowd of supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched Tuesday through the capital on the anniversary of a 1991 military coup that ousted the country's first democratically elected leader.
Thousands of supporters tried to march from the church where Aristide led services as a Catholic priest to his house. But police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse them before they arrived at the home.
The march marked the date that the military ousted Aristide less than a year into his first term as president. It comes amid fears he will be arrested for failing to heed a court summons to testify in a corruption case.
An investigative judge issued an arrest warrant in August after the former president did not attend a hearing looking into allegations that include money laundering during his time in office. Aristide's lawyer has said the summons was not properly served and he has sought to quash the warrant.
Haitian police have been stationed outside the walls of Aristide's home but so far have not moved to carry out the warrant.
The former president, who was ousted again in a violent rebellion in 2004, has rarely ventured outside his home since returning from exile in South Africa in 2011.
Big demonstration Fanmi Lavalas
01/10/2014 13:38:07
Haiti--On Tuesday, the event organized by Fanmi Lavalas to mark the 23rd anniversary of the coup of September 30, 1991 and to show solidarity with Jean Bertrand Aristide, was dispersed near the residence of the former Head of State.
The event began at about 10:30 am, before the church of St Jean Bosco, to the call of political opposition groups, supervised by a heavy security, walked down the Boulevard La Saline, Cite Soleil, Delmas 18, 33, Gerald Bataille, Claircine until Carrefour Fleuriot.
On several occasions, the protesters, whose numbers continued to grow, were forced to change their route, especially at the crossroads of the airport to move towards Delmas 33, they were then several thousand. The police tried to explain them these changes of course due to the procession of the Prime Minister that was coming that way...
Accompanied by a musical float and several rara bands, protesters waving branches, flags and posters bearing the image of Aristide, demanding the departure of President Martelly, denouncing the political persecution of those in power against their leader, who is the subject of an arrest warrant and house arrest, accusing the Executive to wish to perform partisan elections.
At crossroad Rita, the agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) have blocked access to the road Clercine, to the demonstrators who tried to go to Tabarre. The agents of the Corps of Intervention and of Maintenance of Order (CIMO) and the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of Order (UDMO) have used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some of them did not hesitate to retaliate by launching stones at the security forces.
In addition, dozens of Aristide supporters gathered at the entrance of the residence of the former President in solidarity, were dispersed by police, who used water cannon.
André Fadot, the coordinator of the "National Movement of Popular Opposition" (MONOP) denounced the brutal behavior of the security forces, a sign, according to him, the willingness of those in power to restore the dictatorship in the country.
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