On Monday, several hundred police officers, mostly in plain clothes and some hooded wearing red T-shirts identified as PNH, led by Yanick Joseph coordinator of the movement who advocates a union within the police, holding up signs and photos of police officers killed on duty, demonstrated in the streets for the 3rd time, to demand better working conditions and the creation of a union within the National Police of Haiti (PNH) to defend their interests. The peaceful walk started from the airport crossroad before crossing the streets of Delmas and Pétion-ville to reach the headquarters of the PNH General Inspection in Pétion ville. The police made graffiti on the walls of the institution and on private vehicles before leaving, firing shots into the air.

In the early evening on the Champ-de-Mars on the sidelines of a demonstration organized by the police, hooded men claiming to be the police offciers and wearing red T Shirts with a PNH inscription, launched Molotov cocktails on several stands intended to the festivities of the National Carnival 2020 (23, 24, 25 February 2020) at the Champ-de-Mars. Grandstands to accommodate the presidency, dignitaries and distinguished guests, as well as the stand of the Town Hall of Port-au-Prince, which was practically completed, were completely destroyed, the fire spread to almost all the stands under construction in proximity.

Bursts of automatic weapons were also heard in the Champ-de-Mars area. Police demonstrators said they planned to disrupt the carnival festivities if the General Police Directorate did not authorize the creation of their union.

Although pro-union leaders within the PNH have distanced themselves from these acts of extreme vandalism, other police have confirmed that colleagues have followed through on threats to boycott the carnival.

It should be noted that during these acts of destruction, no police force intervened to put an end to it...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29986-haiti-flash-rebel-police-attack-staff-and-destroy-equipment-at-the-igpnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29977-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29334-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29309-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29287-haiti-social-police-will-take-streets-this-sunday.html

TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre