Haitian President Jovenel Moise promised on Monday that he will fight “hard” against kidnappings in the middle of the first day of a 48-hour general strike that paralyzed trade, transportation, schools, public administration and hit the informal sector. The most dynamic in the country.
“This kidnapping, Haitian people, is kidnapping with a godfather and godmother. I guarantee you that I will find them; when it happened, I hope no one will say it is a political persecution or abuse of power.” the president said in a speech to the nation.
Moise’s words seem to try to lessen the impact of the paralysis of activities that took place in Haiti’s main cities today, on a day called by broad sectors of the opposition and other movements that marked the president’s departure on February 7. requirements.
“You who choose to do this to annoy the people will be found. … We are not here to denounce the kidnapping, we are here to fight it. It’s a fight without it. money, “the president said, recalling the case of an eight-year-old kid who was kidnapped a few weeks ago.
In that order, he assured that he would provide the Haitian intelligence system “all the technology to end” the kidnapping and promised to fight “body and soul” to achieve it.
In Port-au-Prince, transport had come to a standstill, although motorbike taxis ran and hundreds of people walked to their destination. Police patrols patrolled the metropolitan area.
Also on the streets of Les Cayes (south), hundreds of people have demonstrated to demand the president’s resignation, who has repeatedly reiterated that his term will expire on February 7, 2022, ensuring that he was elected for a five-year term. .
“For those who want to use kidnapping for political and destabilizing purposes, we will find you. We will set traps for all those who prevent the people from living in peace,” the head of state said in his speech.
For Moise, the kidnappings have a clear political nuance, intended to keep citizens away from the voting centers of the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled for this year.
“Kidnapping is a major problem that scares people to vote,” the president stressed. Kidnappings in the country – to demand ransom – have been escalating since October last year.
As in all of his latest speeches, Moise ruled out any possibility of leaving his post on the date requested by the opposition, reiterating that he will only “give power to the Haitian people.”
The opposition argues that the mandate of the president will expire in February 2021 under an article of the constitution that provides for an early start to the presidential term if there are problems with counting votes in elections, an article therefore applicable. is on this case. It happened with the 2015 election, called off over allegations of fraud and repeated in 2016.
However, the reports of Moise, who came to power on February 7, 2017 for a five-year term in office, allow him to remain at the head of state until 2022, for which he has the backing of the Organization of American States (OAS) . , the United States and other countries.
Amid political uncertainty, Moise is promoting a constitutional reform, which he expects to be put to a referendum in April, ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for September 19.
“When you sleep, wake up. I repeat, things are not the same. It’s the people who have the last word, not you. I repeat, it’s over,” Moise said in direct allusion to his opponents. whom he snapped that ‘if anyone wants to come to power’ they should be eligible.