The Defenseurs Plus collective condemns police brutality against SONAPI demonstrators

The right to demonstrate is a right acquired at the risk of life and many militant struggles carried out both in Haiti against the dictatorial regime of the Duvaliers and internationally. This right is circumscribed in the Haitian constitution of 1987 in its section E of which article 31 provides: “Freedom of association and unarmed assembly for political, economic, social, cultural or any other peaceful purposes is guaranteed “. It is also enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Consequently, the Defenders Plus collective condemns the attitude of the police officers who violently crushed the peaceful demonstrations organized by the subcontractors of SONAPI (national company of industrial parks) this Monday May 8 and Tuesday May 9, 2023.

The police institution is created by the constitution of 1987 and regulated by the law of November 29, 1994. It is an auxiliary institution of justice. In other words, one of the arms of democracy. The motto of the institution being to protect and to serve, it has the imperative obligation to support the Haitian people in their just and legitimate demands, particularly the employees of SONAPI. These protests were met with a brutal fate by law enforcement officers when they had not even reached halfway through the predefined course. In addition, they fulfilled all the legal conditions, including that of notification, and did not represent any danger to public safety. Indeed, the misuse of tear gas, sticks, real or rubber balls or any other practices that may undermine the right to demonstrate are condemned by Haitian laws and international conventions ratified by Haiti.

Consequently, the Defenders Plus collective advocates the marriage between the police and the population to establish a true rule of law in Haiti. He calls on the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti to take all measures to sanction all forms of police violence against demonstrators.

Made in Port-au-Prince, May 10, 2023

Wilkenson Franklyn Junior JN DENIS
Head of Legal Affairs
Tel: 509 31 95 1475