Aristide must go say protestors as they paralyze two Haitian towns

Protests continue in Haiti.
AP Photo

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: "Down with Aristide!" That was the rallying cry yesterday as hundreds of protesters filled the streets and hurled stones at police demanding the resignation of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The Associated Press last night quoted broadcasters on Radio Metropole as saying the protests paralyzed two Haitian towns forcing schools and businesses to close as protesters built flaming tire barricades in the west coast town of St. Marc and in Gonaives.

Protesters also threw rocks at a group of Aristide supporters and at the police, who shot into the air to disperse the crowd. 

No one was reported injured in yesterday's protest, which marks the latest in three weeks of violent demonstrations. Monday's protest was led by Mr. Amiot Metayer's brother, Mr. Buter Metayer, who a day earlier had met with President Aristide at the National Palace.

The brother said President Aristide promised to bring Mr. Metayer's killers to justice but he told reporters he believes "the first step to obtaining justice is Aristide's resignation."

Members of Mr. Metayer's "Cannibal Army" street gang were once loyal to Mr. Aristide, but supporter Mr. Wynter Etienne was quoted as saying the gang had changed its name to the "Gonaives Resistance Front."

Anti-Aristide groups have held demonstrations following the slaying of gang leader Mr. Metayer, whose bullet-riddled body was found near St. Marc on 22nd September. Mr. Metayer's supporters accuse the country's government of complicity in the killing, saying the gang leader who once ruled the streets for Mr. Aristide had damaging information about the president.

The government has denied involvement, saying only its opponents stand to gain from the violence.

Clashes with police have become common. At least eight men have been killed and 27 wounded in the violence, most in an 2nd October police raid on Mr. Metayer's stronghold in the Gonaives shantytown of Raboteau, AP said. 

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