Protesters in Haiti demand ouster of leader
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Thousands of demonstrators set fires Monday and chanted calls for Haiti’s president to resign as the opposition to Jovenel Moise increased pressure on him to leave office.
Schools, businesses and government offices were closed as protesters gathered chanting, “Down with Jovenel!”
“We can’t continue to live like this,” said Lestin Abelo, 34, as he poured gasoline on a pile of debris that caught fire. “We have a government that’s not doing anything for the people.”
Opposition leaders and supporters say they are angry about public corruption, spiraling inflation and a dwindling supply of gasoline that has forced many stations in the capital to close. Suppliers have demanded that the cash-strapped government pay them more than $100 million owed.
Protesters also are demanding a deeper investigation into allegations that top officials in the previous government misused billions of dollars in proceeds from a Venezuela-subsidized oil plan meant to fund urgent social programs. Critics accuse Moise of trying to protect his ally, former President Michel Martelly, and of participating in the corruption himself before becoming president.
Police used tear gas to break up the demonstrations, with one canister landing on a family’s roof as people fled the house in panic.
Among those running was Petit Homme Edner, 38, who held a cloth to his face.
“Is this democracy?!” he cried out. “We have the right to protest.”
Local radio journalist Joseph Edmond was shot in his right hand while covering the protest. His colleague, Eddy Baptiste, said Edmond was injured when police in an unmarked car began firing so they could get away from a crowd.
Moise, who began his five-year term in 2017, has said he will not step down despite the unrest...