Thursday, while President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Lamothe commemorated the 207th anniversary of the assassination of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9681-haiti-politic-official-commemoration-of-the-207th-anniversary-of-jean-jacques-dessalines.html thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of Port-au-Prince, against hunger and unemployment, demanding the resignation of President Martelly. The event was organized by the Patriotic Forces for the observance of the Constitution (FOPAK), near the Fanmi Lavalas party.

Left from Bel Air, the demonstrators walked through the city, chanting anti-government slogans and waving placards passing by la Saline, Cité Soleil, Delmas before ending at Champ de Mars. Throwing stones and bottles, preceded the end of the event, while young protesters tried to force roadblocks installed by the police at Champ de Mars which dispersed the demonstration with tear gas. Gunshots were heard, no casualties were reported.

Heads of political parties and opposition parliamentarians attended the event. Former President of the Lower House, Levaillant Louis Jeune, referring to President Martelly declared "The people asked him to resign unconditionally" accusing the Government of endangering democracy. Turnep Delpé, of the "Patriotic Movement of the Democratic Opposition" (MOPOD) platform of the oppositionwhich brings together the RDNP, PLH, PROP, Ayisyen pou Ayiti, KID, Ansanm Nou Fo, INITE, Fusion and OPL, which opposes the "Tet Kale" regime, called again for the departure of the Head of State, if legislative, municipal and local elections were not held in 2013.

Dr. Maryse Narcisse, Coordinator of the Executive Committee of Fanmi Lavalas, while welcoming the memory of Jean Jacques Dessalines, said that this event took place within the framework of "the mobilization, consultation, gathering, determination and intelligence, to keep alive the project to build a society of social justice..."

Port-au-Prince was not the only place of demonstrations against the government, MOPOD party members, also demonstrated in several other cities, including Cap-Haitien and Marchand Dessalines in the Artibonite.

Leaders of the FOPAK said they were determined to continue the mobilization "until the departure of Martelly and the Head of Government, Laurent Lamothe."

S/ HaitiLibre