[rnddh-press] Declaration: Cost of Living Protests

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Declaration

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RNDDH’s declaration on the large movement protesting the high cost of living
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/Statement by RNDDH Executive Director Pierre Esperance, 09/04/08/

RNDDH acknowledges the large protest movement the Haitian people are 
conducting throughout the country to reclaim their right to eat and 
their right to access to the basic goods used every day. RNDDH considers 
this reclamation legitimate.

The right to eat is a fundamental right that any respectable government 
must guarantee for its citizens.

At the same time, RNDDH deplores that this protest movement is 
accompanied by numerous acts of violence, of theft, of pillage. These 
violent acts are not acceptable in a democratic society.

RNDDH condemns the attacks against the press, such as TeleHaiti and the 
newspaper Le Matin, along with the journalists who were made victim 
while carrying out their work. RNDDH reminds those demonstrating along 
with those responsible for maintaining order that they must protect the 
freedom of speech that the press and journalists represent.

RNDDH condemns any lack of professionalism by those responsible for 
maintaining order, whether through a lack of protecting the rights and 
well-being of citizens or through improperly acting against the civil 
population, injuring many with bullets most notably in the town of Les 
Cayes and in front of the National Palace in Port-au-Prince.

RNDDH deplores the fact that many demonstrators, principally those in 
Les Cayes, lost their lives through conditions that are not clear.

RNDDH extends its condolences to all those who were victims during these 
events.

RNDDH hopes that those who participate in pillaging, theft, destruction, 
those who use guns without thought, and those who abuse their force will 
answer to justice for the acts they committed, no matter what their rank 
in society or institution they are a part of.

RNDDH asks the president of the Republic along with the government and 
Haitian parliament to consider that it is the application of Neoliberal 
policies that is the cause of this protest movement.

Today, those in power must do whatever is necessary to change the 
economic orientation, to stop taking orders from the IMF and the World 
Bank. Institute a social economic policy that takes into account the 
claims of the mass population.

Create jobs. Take effective measure to lower the cost of living. Stop 
the waste in the state administration. Fight corruption and impunity in 
the state.

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