April 22nd Mobilization in the North of Haiti

central america / caribbean | imperialism / war | other libertarian press

Sunday April 27, 2008 04:38

by Batay Ouvriye - BO

batay at batayouvriye dot org

As announced, on Tuesday April 22, 2008, Batay Ouvriye (Workers’ Struggle) mobilized in the North of the country.

As announced, on Tuesday April 22, 2008, Batay Ouvriye (Workers’ Struggle) mobilized in the North of the country. This was to follow through with our demands against the skyrocketing cost of living, unemployment and the occupation, in effect guardian of the present-day exploitation’s reproduction.

The demonstration began with some 300 comrades. Truly, subsequent to the events in Port-au-Prince , Cayes, Jérémie… and the ruthless MINUSTAH repression that followed, many chose to stay home. And yes indeed, from the very start of the march, we were completely cordoned by the national police and the MINUSTAH. The latter, armed to the teeth with heavy weaponry as if they were ready to go to war, belligerent, acted as a barrier between the demonstrators and the population, who, despite this, came out of their work and their homes, standing on both sides of the street, applauding and encouraging us. We distributed leaflets, chanted slogans and talked to the population

Some 100 more workers, from the surrounding popular neighborhoods joined in the course of the demo. Then, bravely, many participants began to yell to the occupants what they thought of their presence (“DOWN WITH MINUSTAH”) and, shortly after, the tension became very strong A delegation was sent to various radio stations, relaying our messages on the airwaves and addressing the questions of the high cost of living, the wage increase and the occupation, all effectively heightening the impact of the protest.

The march passed throughout various public marketplaces, other popular neighborhoods and workers’ meeting places, agitating the questions being addressed and holding spontaneous meetings in which debates were held and positions taken, that which made the “guardians of the established order” even more nervous.

The UN mission’s violent show of force, clearly destined to intimidate participants, failed to bring a close to the summits of the demonstration. In fact, the march succeeded in having a serious impact in the entire city of Cap-Haitian and the region, the press having relayed the event also. Presently, we are planning Mayday in which we’ll be holding events in various cities. At the same time, other groups of the social movements have also begun to diffuse calls for mobilization on this day with an equally broadened content.