[rnddh-press] Declaration: April 2008 Events

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Declaration

*HUNGER RIOTS:
RNDDH's position on the latest developments that occurred in the country
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The Préval/Alexis government, upon its arrival in power in 2006, pledged 
to address two major challenges: insecurity and the high cost of living. 
In terms of insecurity, even if a lot remains to be done, one need not 
exaggerate to say that the government has produced numerous efforts 
toward bringing calm to areas of risk---those completely controlled by 
armed gangs, most notably Cité Soleil, Bel'Air, Grand-Ravine, 
Martissant, Gonaives, etc. Several gang leaders have been arrested. 
Numerous kidnappers have been judged and convicted over the course of 
the 2006 and 2007 criminal trials. This has fostered a climate of calm, 
and activities that were previously paralyzed have been able to restart. 
However, no effort has been made to improve the population's 
socioeconomic conditions, particularly regarding food. In the space of 
two years, the Haitian population has witnessed a phenomenal rise in the 
price of basic necessities making the right to food, one aspect of the 
right to life, a violated right. An eruption of the situation was to be 
expected.

In effect, April 3 to 11, 2008, a wave of protests against the high cost 
of living spread throughout the country. The demonstrations began in 
Cayes then spread to numerous different locations without any particular 
group claiming responsibility. The demands, though, were similar: 
reduction of the price for products of basic necessity, access to the 
right to food, resignation of the government, departure of MINUSTAH, 
etc. These demonstrations gathered hundreds of thousands of people and 
were an occasion for the population to present its legitimate and 
justified demands through rhythmic chants and slogans. At the same time, 
as legitimate as these protest movements were, they were blemished by 
acts of violence, rape, theft, looting, arson, and resulted in deaths.

The governmental and law enforcement authorities, as their first step, 
showed complete indifference regarding their obligations to protect the 
lives and property of people. Public and private property were thus left 
to the mercy of ill-intentioned people...
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