The Government of the Republic of Haiti said noted with great apprehension that the demonstrations organized to challenge the results of the last elections, are becoming increasingly violent, and does not meet the standards for the conduct of peaceful demonstrations.

The Government notes that :

• The courses submitted to the police by the organizers of the recent demonstrations are not always respected;

• Small traders, school children, drivers, shopkeepers, policemen and citizens going about their business, are victims of acts of aggression on their persons, their vehicles, their goods and their commercial establishments;

• The site of the historic site of the Battle of Vertières renovated to mark the 212th anniversary of this great decisive military victory for national independence, November 18, 1803 was vandalized;

• The separators used by police to mark the perimeter boundary of protesters who wanted to enter the premises of the CEP were violently attacked.

While recognizing and respecting the right to peaceful protest, the government condemns the numerous cases of violence characterized registered in demonstrations likely to endanger what remains of national sovereignty.

As part of their mission to maintain public order, justice and the police are already mobilized in order to identify and prosecute all those who, in violation of the law, feed this retrograde climate, of anti-democratic violence, contrary to the aspirations of the people, for peace and social cohesion in the country.

The Government takes this opportunity to ask the people to refute all forms of violence and launches once again a call for calm, while encouraging the different political actors of the country to demonstrate patriotic responsibility, necessary for the serenity of Living Together.

HL/ HaitiLibre