The former leader of the Federation of Haitian University Students, Herve Saintilus, has denounced the way the government and the international community are dealing with the issue of violence. He has called on students to intervene in order to help out the people in poor neighborhoods such as Bel-Air and Martissant who have been taken hostage by the armed bandits. Saintilus spoke as follows:
“We are sad to see how the country is being destroyed by the insecurity issue, a political insecurity muddled with an insecurity created by an administrative mess. We want President Boniface Alexandre to tell us whether it is not his constitutional duty to ensure the smooth functioning of all institutions.
“We want the prime minister to tell us whether he is not an accomplice, because we believe that his duty is to coordinate all the actions of the government. So, we would like you all to explain about the situation that is taking place at Electricity of Haiti (Ed’H) and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
“As for Interior Minister Herard Abraham, we would like you to tell us what you are doing, because, eight months after you were installed, what we have observed is that lots of shops have been burnt down in Port-au-Prince, market places have been destroyed in Gonaives and people have been beheaded. Even policemen have not been spared. So, tell us what you are doing with these Lavalas terrorists.
“Minister Bernard Gousse, we want to know what kind of judicial system you are in charge of. At this moment, all the judges and public prosecutors who were plotting to persecute and arrest students and opponents of the previous government are still in their posts. Will the people ever be able to obtain justice?
“Leon Charles (director-general of the Haitian National Police, PNH), what are you going to do with the false policemen (who are still in the police) who are preventing the police from capturing the Lavalas terrorists? What are you going to do to help the people regain confidence?
“As for Gen. Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira, the Brazilian military commander of Minustah (UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti), we want you to make clear to us your true mission here. Is it just for you to go about enjoying yourself and having a good time?
“My fellow students, have you resigned or what? You should remember that we were the ones who first asked the people to accompany us in the fight against the terrorist leader, ex- President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. So now, is it not our duty to go and plead the cause of the people in Bel-Air, Grand-Ravine, Cite Soleil and La Saline?
“My fellow students, the time has come for us to stand and block the way to prevent terrorists from terrorizing the people. For this reason, we would like all sectors to get together soon to find a good strategy capable of putting the terrorists under control.”