Wednesday, several thousand high school students and college students took the concrete for the third day to demand the resumption of their classes, deprived of class due to the strike of teachers who claim their salary arrears including to the Faustin Soulouque High School since Monday and at the Fundamental School of Application and Pedagogical Support Center (EFACAP) for more than two weeks https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23671-haiti-education-schools-and-high-schools-paralyzed-in-petit-goave.html

Arriving in front of the police station, the situation degenerated when the students threw a shower of stones against the building and the police, who were sheltering in the courtyard of the police station in response by shooting in the air or tear gas grenades. A strong tension, in a climate of confusion and violence reigned throughout the duration of the clashes. The intervention of the agents of the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of the Order (UDMO) finally allowed to disperse the demonstrators.

Balance of the clashes : 3 students arrested Avril Nelson, philo student at Faustin Soulouque (ear injured, brutalized by the police according to his testimony), Steeve Louissaint and Ronald Louis René, of Yves R. Lamartine College students, also 2 police officers injured by stones including a UDMO officer. Some damage reported, among other things on the Police Commissioner's vehicle.

Following the intervention by telephone of Deputy Germain Alexandre Fils and those of Me Kébreau Zamor former Commissioner of the Government of Petit-Goâve, Deputy Mayor Délor Desgranges and Judge Arentz Mars with Police Commissioner Zamor John Joseph, the arrested students have have been released... Note that a delegation of teachers from the Lycée Faustin Soulouque went to the police station in solidarity.

According to Me Kébreau Zamor "[...] It took me 2 hours of negotiation with the Commissioner of Police, accompanied by the Censor Arnald Cadet, to convince him of the need to release the arrested students. Fortunately, this was done with a view to better counseling the students... And that's how I was able to transport the injured student to the hospital for treatment [...] While encouraging students to demonstrate peacefully, I took the opportunity to remind the Commissioner of Police that the UDMO agents must show professionalism and moderation in the course of their interventions..."

For his part Police Commissioner Zamor John Joseph took the opportunity to warn students against any form of violence: throwing stones, forcibly closing public offices or blocking the national road #2...

In addition, the Deputy Germain Alexandre Fils confirmed to have spoken on the phone with the Minister of National Education, so that a solution is found quickly to the crisis.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23679-haiti-flash-violent-clash-in-petit-goave-between-students-several-victims.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23671-haiti-education-schools-and-high-schools-paralyzed-in-petit-goave.html

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goâve)