Thomazeau: Police Kill Civilian
Last night, in the town of Thomazeau, the Haitian National Police (PNH) killed a young man after a dispute with his sister. He was beaten by the police, jailed, "escaped" and was, finally, mortally shot in the back.
The citizens of Thomazeau were enraged at the killing; impromptu barricades and roadblocks were constructed with burning tires, rocks and any thing else close by. A roadblock was built in front of the police station and a car torched. The police fired bursts of gunshots into the air to disperse crowds and the situation remained explosive well into the morning. The United Nations was dispatched to the town and the situation was "pacified" but an atmosphere of anger and resentment at the killing still held sway. The United Nations police force will investigate the killing.
The Haitian National Police have a reputation and long history of summary executions, rape, torture and murder. In the past, and many will argue, today, the police are used as means of suppressing popular peasant movements, organizations and the will of the poor in order to satisfy the needs of the bourgeoisie. The people of Thomazeau have no faith in the police - a similar sentiment here in Haiti - even as the Preval administration attempts to reform the Haitian National Police force. What this means for the reconciliation and reintegration effort of the PNH into the community remains to be seen. But the reverberations of the killing in Thomazeau will be felt throughout the country.
Comments
I suggest that the Haitian police force melt down their guns, forge a plow or two and start planting some seeds. It is interesting living in a place where the police force are used to suppress growth of the masses, so that a few can prosper.
Posted by: George Brun | October 22, 2006 06:55 AM
George,
In many instances the police are just criminals with badges. Some are involved in the kidnappings and drug trade in Haiti.
They've tried to make a few inroads in more volatile areas - such as their recent return to Cité Soleil a few weeks ago. But when they've got people targetting them because of the uniform they wear, it's not reasonable to suggest putting down their guns. One of their biggest problems has been the opposite -- a lack of firepower for the fight they're fighting against gangs who are more heavily armed than them.
We'd all love for people to put down their weapons because the more guns on the streets, the more innocent bystanders get killed. But we must take a realistic approach to the situation.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 23, 2006 07:07 AM
Yeah but what was the nature of the "dispute with sister" and the character of the kid who got shot? Any priors or gang alliances involved?
(:=
Posted by: Yorick | October 23, 2006 08:38 PM
I was there. I just returned from Thomazeau yesterday on a "Friends of Haiti mission (See: friendsofhaiti-gb.com) and the report is accurate. The sister did turn in her brother, who by all accounts was a bad actor, not a gang member, and not organized with any poltical group. The people of Thomazeau rose up because they felt if the police would kill this kid for being a common ruffian, what would stop them from killing anyone in Thomazeau?
Posted by: Lou | October 28, 2006 05:26 PM
Can some please tell me the name of this young man.
Iam from thomazeau . i think he might be related to me
Posted by: sonson | November 5, 2006 02:45 AM