‘Long live Putin!’ Haiti opposition protesters burn US flag, demand Russian intervention
As the poorest Caribbean state descends into chaos caused by the corruption of its elites, protesters on the streets are calling for help from a man who has never set foot in the country – Vladimir Putin.
“Down with Americans, long live Putin!” chanted around 200 demonstrators in the capital Port-au-Prince on Friday, some holding up printouts with the face of the Russian president.
Protesters burned the American flag as criticism of the links between Washington and the unpopular government of President Jovenel Moise. They called Moise, elected in 2016, a US-installed puppet, who is surviving due to US reluctance to exert international pressure.
Thousands of Haitians took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Friday in the latest display of public fury at the government over rampant corruption, economic malaise and other grievances.
Chanting antigovernment slogans, the protesters, most walking but some riding in phalanxes of motorcycles, converged on the affluent suburb of Pétion-Ville but were mostly stopped by riot police officers whose armored vehicles blocked the road. Some demonstrators set piles of tires on fire and threw rocks, and the police fired tear gas to control the protest.
Sporadic gunfire was heard throughout the afternoon, some of it from police officers shooting into the air. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Friday’s demonstration was the latest in a week of violent protests that have paralyzed commerce, forced schools and shops to close, and compelled many Haitians in Port-au-Prince, the capital, to hunker down in their homes.
From a country firmly lodged in Washington’s sphere of influence, if it is of any interest to outsiders at all, Bronson launched a last-ditch appeal to distant powers.
“We are asking Russia, Venezuela and China to take a look at the misery we live in here,” implored Bronson.
Looting & deadly clashes
It is tempting to treat the small-scale demonstration as a comically eccentric sideshow, but the protest has helped draw international attention to a spiraling crisis that is anything but funny.
Policeman opens fire on the crowd in Port-au-Prince.
Since February 7, the low-built but densely settled Port-au-Prince, which has still not fully recovered from the devastating 2010 earthquake, has been rocked by near-constant flash demonstrations demanding the resignation of the government.
Barricades have blocked off key roads, and both private businesses and public institutions such as schools have been operating intermittently. As supplies of food, drinking water and fuel have dwindled, looting has become commonplace.
A protester shows a Russian flag and sings a slogan in favor of Putin.
Police have repeatedly used tear gas and ammunition to disperse demonstrators, who have the president’s residence as one of their targets, alongside international embassies. At least six people have died in clashes.
Major Western countries have told their citizens to leave, while over 100 Canadian tourists had to undergo emergency evacuation.
Stolen charity
The crisis was sparked by revelations of years-long misappropriation resulting in losses of $2 billion from the discounted oil program Venezuela developed for the island nation in the aftermath of the earthquake, which killed over 100,000 people.
Hence, its name check between the more obvious powers, though perhaps as the only nation in the region with an even more severe street crisis, it is hardly in a position to monitor Haitian officials.
In any case, the sum is trivial by international standards – the US spends about $2 billion of its defense budget every 24 hours – it is significant in a country where nearly two-thirds of the 11 million population live on less than $2.50 a day.
After a week of conspicuous silence, Moise and Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant have addressed the public.
In a speech broadcast at the weekend, Ceant blamed inequality, poor governance and corruption as the long-term problems, but urged protesters to avoid violence, and specifically condemned the US flag-burning.
But whether that will be enough to win actual backing rather than words of support from Washington for the embattled government – Trump famously listed Haiti on his alleged roll of “shithole countries” – is less clear.
The US provided valuable aid and refugee shelter in 2010 but has little interest in bankrolling a distinctly non-strategic ally with few precious resources. Meanwhile the economy remains totally dependent on exports to the US – which constitute 90 percent of the total – and remittances from America comprise a large proportion of GDP.
Haitians queue for gas in Port-au-Prince on Saturday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/world/amer...ility.html
https://www.rt.com/news/451673-haiti-putin-bu...aign=Email
As the poorest Caribbean state descends into chaos caused by the corruption of its elites, protesters on the streets are calling for help from a man who has never set foot in the country – Vladimir Putin.
“Down with Americans, long live Putin!” chanted around 200 demonstrators in the capital Port-au-Prince on Friday, some holding up printouts with the face of the Russian president.
Protesters burned the American flag as criticism of the links between Washington and the unpopular government of President Jovenel Moise. They called Moise, elected in 2016, a US-installed puppet, who is surviving due to US reluctance to exert international pressure.
Thousands of Haitians took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Friday in the latest display of public fury at the government over rampant corruption, economic malaise and other grievances.
Chanting antigovernment slogans, the protesters, most walking but some riding in phalanxes of motorcycles, converged on the affluent suburb of Pétion-Ville but were mostly stopped by riot police officers whose armored vehicles blocked the road. Some demonstrators set piles of tires on fire and threw rocks, and the police fired tear gas to control the protest.
Sporadic gunfire was heard throughout the afternoon, some of it from police officers shooting into the air. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Friday’s demonstration was the latest in a week of violent protests that have paralyzed commerce, forced schools and shops to close, and compelled many Haitians in Port-au-Prince, the capital, to hunker down in their homes.
From a country firmly lodged in Washington’s sphere of influence, if it is of any interest to outsiders at all, Bronson launched a last-ditch appeal to distant powers.
“We are asking Russia, Venezuela and China to take a look at the misery we live in here,” implored Bronson.
Looting & deadly clashes
It is tempting to treat the small-scale demonstration as a comically eccentric sideshow, but the protest has helped draw international attention to a spiraling crisis that is anything but funny.
Policeman opens fire on the crowd in Port-au-Prince.
Since February 7, the low-built but densely settled Port-au-Prince, which has still not fully recovered from the devastating 2010 earthquake, has been rocked by near-constant flash demonstrations demanding the resignation of the government.
Barricades have blocked off key roads, and both private businesses and public institutions such as schools have been operating intermittently. As supplies of food, drinking water and fuel have dwindled, looting has become commonplace.
A protester shows a Russian flag and sings a slogan in favor of Putin.
Police have repeatedly used tear gas and ammunition to disperse demonstrators, who have the president’s residence as one of their targets, alongside international embassies. At least six people have died in clashes.
Major Western countries have told their citizens to leave, while over 100 Canadian tourists had to undergo emergency evacuation.
Stolen charity
The crisis was sparked by revelations of years-long misappropriation resulting in losses of $2 billion from the discounted oil program Venezuela developed for the island nation in the aftermath of the earthquake, which killed over 100,000 people.
Hence, its name check between the more obvious powers, though perhaps as the only nation in the region with an even more severe street crisis, it is hardly in a position to monitor Haitian officials.
In any case, the sum is trivial by international standards – the US spends about $2 billion of its defense budget every 24 hours – it is significant in a country where nearly two-thirds of the 11 million population live on less than $2.50 a day.
After a week of conspicuous silence, Moise and Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant have addressed the public.
In a speech broadcast at the weekend, Ceant blamed inequality, poor governance and corruption as the long-term problems, but urged protesters to avoid violence, and specifically condemned the US flag-burning.
But whether that will be enough to win actual backing rather than words of support from Washington for the embattled government – Trump famously listed Haiti on his alleged roll of “shithole countries” – is less clear.
The US provided valuable aid and refugee shelter in 2010 but has little interest in bankrolling a distinctly non-strategic ally with few precious resources. Meanwhile the economy remains totally dependent on exports to the US – which constitute 90 percent of the total – and remittances from America comprise a large proportion of GDP.
Haitians queue for gas in Port-au-Prince on Saturday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/world/amer...ility.html
https://www.rt.com/news/451673-haiti-putin-bu...aign=Email
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