PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Hundreds gathered to mourn a pro-government gang leader slain under mysterious circumstances after being taken into police custody last month. Roland Francois, a strong supporter of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was last seen July 20 when he was detained by police and taken to a suburban station in Delma. He called and spoke to his wife, but he was never seen alive again. The next day, his bullet-riddled body was found in the city morgue. Police have given no information about why they picked him up or if they had released him before his death. “Whenever Aristide called on him, he said ‘yes’ to whatever he was asked to do,” said Francois’s wife, Sonya Derosier. She did not elaborate on what he had been asked to do. During a private meeting she had with the president, “Aristide expressed his indignation” at Francois’ murder, Derosier said Saturday in an interview with private Radio Kiskeya. Nevertheless, several of those at the funeral Saturday blamed Aristide for Francois’ death. “Down with Aristide,” shouted the mourners as they followed Francois’ coffin from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church to the downtown cemetery in the capital, Port-au-Prince. “Look what you’ve done to us. We’ll never vote for you again.” Francois headed the Fon Touron gang that for years has been fighting with another gang led by Franco Camille for control of La Saline, a slum in the capital where they both are based. Merchants have complained the gangs extort money under the pretext of collecting municipal taxes, but the gangs are also known for civic activities including emergency relief and neighborhood cleaning. On Friday night, an unidentified gunman opened fire in La Saline, where members of Francois’ gang were sweeping streets. Sixteen-year-old Gerline Napolean was killed, while four others were injured. Police have no suspects. Francois “did a lot of jobs for the government,” said Bernard Casseus, grass-roots leader of the nearby shantytown of Cite-Soleil. But after using him “the government programmed his death,” Casseus said during an interview Saturday with Radio Kiskeya. A former city employee in Cite-Soleil, Johnny Occilius, told the radio station Tuesday the government used the gangs as death squads and to break up opposition demonstrations and meetings. He accused gang leader Camille of killing Francois under orders from Interior Minister Jocelerme Privert. Camille has since denied the accusation, and Privert said he would respond to the charge after consulting with his lawyers. Occilius has since fled this impoverished Caribbean country for an unknown destination in the United States.
friends and family members of Roland Francois
Unidentified friends and family members of Roland Francois and Pierre Rosemond, killed while in custody of the Haitian National Police on July 21 according to family members, protest demanding justice and shout ‘Down with Jean-Bertrand Aristide ! Aristide murderer !’ during the funeral procession to the National Cemetary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003. According to local media, Francois was a well-known gang leader and government supporter, who was said to control the Tet Boeuf marketplace. His relatives added that his murder was the result of rivalry between two pro-government gangs. (AP Photo/Daniel Morel)
 Friends and family members of Roland Francois Friends and family members of Roland Francois and Pierre Rosemond, killed while in custody of the Haitian National Police on July 21 according to family members, carry wreaths during the funeral procession to the National Cemetary through the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they demanded justice and shouted ‘Down with Jean-Bertrand Aristide ! Aristide murderer !’ Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003. According to local media, Francois was a well-known gang leader and government supporter, who was said to control the Tet Boeuf marketplace. His relatives added that his murder was the result of rivalry between two pro-government gangs. (AP Photo/Daniel Morel) |