Demonstration at Cite Soleil to demand the departure of MINUSTAH from Haiti
On Thursday, November 9, 2006, the inhabitants of Cité Soleil, the poorest and largest popular district of the capital, held a demonstration to protest against the presence of the MINUSTHA troops in the country. There were several hundred participants. The demonstration passed through the streets of all Cite Soleil neighborhoods. The main goal of this manifestation was: The departure of MINUSTAH from Haiti.
The demonstrators also demanded the physical return of ex-President Jean- Bertrand Aristide in Haiti, the reinstatement of public employees illegally fired by the Latortue dictatorship, and the release of all political prisoners.
One spokesperson declared to reporters: “We want MINUSTHA to leave the country; we have a national force which is the National Police Force, that national force should be the one enjoying the luxuries the MINUSTHA soldiers are enjoying.”
Another speaker added: “We want no other force on our territory, we have our own force, we do not have any problem with the PNH which patrols Cité Soleil whenever it wants; we want MINUSTHA out.”
Wadner Pierre, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux
Port-au-Prince, Haiti