ARTICLE - MARTELLY - STUDENT CLASH

MARTELLY-STUDENT CLASH "REGRETTABLE" AND "DEPLORABLE" SAYS UNIVERSITY RECTOR
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE – The rector at the State University of Haiti, Jean Vernet Henry, regretted the event that occurred on Friday at the School of Ethnology, between students and a crowd that had accompanied President Michel Martelly.

For the university official it was deplorable that rocks were thrown at the president and entourage, but at the same time, Henry wished that the visit had been done under institutional protocols.

”This is an incident that is truly regrettable.”

”I haven’t received all of the information, but I understand that the president was going to the School of Ethnology; and in any case, it is not normal that they throw rocks at the entourage of the President.”

”There are institutional problems too. If the president was going to go to the School of Ethnology, then I believe that he should have announced that he was going to the school. At that time there would have been measures taken.”

”For us, it is a regrettable incident that we deplore.”

”Although no one would have invited these incidents, I believe things should be done institutionally. That means, if the President is going to a school, he should announce it or report it to the rector,.... and at that time dispositions would be taken to receive him correctly.”

An international symposium with professors from France, Brazil and other countries of the world was being held at the university. President Michel Martelly was accompanied by a crowd that travelled on foot to the university chanting “Martelly, the country is for you!”

It was reported that the President was told that he couldn’t enter the premises and it was at that time a melee ensued. It was reported that students threw rocks at the President and his supporters and the presidential guard fired automatic weapons into the air. The president’s supporters threw rocks as well, and vandalized university property.

Dr. Henry was asked about student injuries:

”What I have for information, is that there was a student that fainted. I was told that there were students who were injured running, and things like that, but I don’t have any other information…”

Dr. Henry said that he employed the services of the Red Cross to evacuate people that were inside. The professor continued to say that the position of the university is that it was a regrettable and abnormal incident. He feels that the Office of the President should have notified university officials, so that proper measures could have been taken.

The vandalism of the property was most distressing to university officials, already working with limited means.