The government of Haiti declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed a major Port-au-Prince prison, leading to the killing of at least 12 people and the escape of about 4,000 inmates. Gang leaders said they want to force the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is currently abroad. The groups aiming to oust him control about 80% of Port-au-Prince. Violent gang wars have killed thousands in the country since 2020.
The US government and its media apparatus are telling you Haiti has a gang problem that demands foreign military intervention. It’s true there is a problem with criminal gangs that kidnap, terrorize and murder innocent people. What they don’t tell you is that these criminal gangs are creations of the system, supported by the US-backed oligarchs. They also don’t tell you that their invasion is targeted against the only figure fighting against those criminal gangs: Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier, leader of the G9 anti-crime federation. Watch him speak to a huge crowd of supporters about how the ruling class exploits the poor masses. Unlike Cherizier, US puppet Ariel Henry is reviled by the people. He can’t appear in public, let alone draw a crowd of hundreds or thousands like Cherizier. This is enemy number one of the U.S. empire in Haiti. Anti-imperialists must resist war propaganda promoted through mass media and defend him, and Haitian sovereignty.
The US government and its media apparatus are telling you Haiti has a gang problem that demands foreign military intervention.
It’s true there is a problem with criminal gangs that kidnap, terrorize and murder innocent people.
What they don’t tell you is that these criminal… pic.twitter.com/H1YfC4Fb7Y
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) March 4, 2024
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry under heavy gang attack in Haiti. This is how political instability and rampant gang violence in Haiti looks like. Let’s pray for the Kenyan police as they go there.
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry under heavy gang attack in Haiti. This is how political instability and rampant gang violence in Haiti looks like. Let’s pray for the Kenyan police as they go there. pic.twitter.com/rcOdZzPloc
— Alinur Mohamed (@AlinurMohamed_) March 2, 2024
- The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has advised American citizens in Haiti to leave the country as soon as possible due to increased gang-related violence.
- A travel alert has been issued for Haiti, with the embassy operating on limited capacity and advising against travel to the country.
- The embassy recommends that those who must travel to Haiti should avoid crowds, monitor local media, be prepared to shelter in place, and take various safety precautions such as keeping a low profile and having travel documents ready.
- Haiti’s government declared a 72-hour state of emergency following violent clashes in the capital, which led to damage to communications infrastructure and two prison breaks.
- Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who recently traveled to Kenya to discuss a U.N.-ratified mission to combat gangs, faces opposition from major gang leaders attempting to oust him.
- Nearly 4,000 inmates are believed to have escaped from the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, with some charged in connection with the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
- Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as Barbecue, has taken responsibility for the recent surge in attacks, aiming to capture key government figures and prevent Henry’s return to Haiti.
- A curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. is in place until March 5, as the government and law enforcement attempt to restore order and recapture escaped prisoners.
- The U.N. has expressed concern over the eroding presence of the Haitian government and the pervasive lawlessness and gang violence affecting the country.
- Finance Minister Patrick Boisvert, temporarily in charge, has called on police to use all legal means to enforce the curfew and recapture the prisoners, while Prime Minister Henry seeks international support for a security force to address the gang violence.
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