ARTICLE - LAVALAS, ANTI-MARTELLY DEMONSTRATION

MASSIVE LAVALAS, ANTI-MARTELLY DEMONSTRATION
(Haiti Libre) -

Several thousands of supporters and sympathizers of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, in their great majority from popular neighborhoods, have responded to the call of the political organization "Fanmi Lavalas" on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the second coup against Aristide on 29 February 2004. This was undoubtedly the most important pro-Lavalas and anti-Martelly demonstration since he took office in May 2011.

The event was an opportunity for supporters of Fanmi Lavalas to renew with vigor, their unwavering support for their charismatic leader, while claiming their right to participate in inclusive and democratic elections; after being rejected two times by the Préval regime.

From the ruins of Church Saint-Jean Bosco, the former parish of former priest Aristide, the demonstration, under heavy police escort, then crossed poor neighborhoods known to be strongholds of J.B. Aristide, then Avenue John Brown before taking the direction of the Haitian Parliament. Moïse Jean-Charles, Jean-Baptiste Bien-aimé, Accluche Louis Jeune, Saurel Jacinthe and Arnel Bélizaire joined the demonstration and promised to get the Chief of State to submit his travel documents, in front of an angry mob shouting against President Martelly, "We know that you are not Haitian. You must show your passport !"

Some rampaging protesters, ripped and tore pictures of President Martelly. Very angry, protesters have attacked the authorities they accuse of wanting to sue their leader. Cautioning those in power against a possible lawsuit or political persecution... "We tell Martelly to be careful," said a protester. "If the government plans to stop it, we will burn the country."

Senator Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aimé shouted to the crowd, "This coup whose aim is to arrest Jean-Bertrand Aristide will not pass. We swear 77 times 7 times"; while his colleague, Senator John Joël Joseph, affirmed before an excited crowd, "They think they can frighten Aristide, but we are here to defend him [...] Nothing will happen to him". Several parliamentarians also spoke to incite the population to prevent by all means, the restoration of the regime of the "Tonton Macoutes."

The pro-Aristide crowd, warned President Martelly that if he refused to give his travel documents to Parliament, they will go once again onto the street on March 18, the first anniversary of the return from exile of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.