The Haitian police rebel command, known as Phantom 509, threatened on Tuesday that it would “burn the country” if criminal gangs did not return the bodies of the assassinated comrades, whose remains were not returned for “mystical reasons.” , according to authorities.criminals.
A demonstration by security forces on Tuesday in the streets of Port-au-Prince demanded the return of the bodies of the five comrades killed during an operation against these groups on March 13 in the Village district. .
“If they don’t give us the bodies of the police, we will burn this country. God forbid if they don’t give us the bodies after 24 hours. We will go after them,” police sources warned, according to digital media. The Haitian Times.
Phantom 509 was born in the heat of mobilizing agents for salary improvements, economic bonuses and the right to union affiliation. However, they radicalized their protests and even attacked public institutions and set fire to state vehicles.
In previous protests, this faction of police, which organized violent protests during 2020, demanded a basic salary of 50,000 gourdes (about 530 euros) and a debit card with an additional 25,000 (about 270 euros). The government says it does not have the resources to do so.
Police officer Lionel Lazarre accused one of his media superiors of “intentionally” sending his colleagues to this operation, knowing that they would be ambushed.
In addition to the five dead, whose bodies were dragged and beaten, eight other officers were injured and several armored vehicles of the authorities were stolen.
“The Haitian Times” distributed a video in which a voice is heard that would belong to the head of the band that operates in Village de Dieu, which he identifies as “Izo”. The registration states that the agents received “a funeral”, but that their bodies had to be kept for “mystical reasons”.
For his part, the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, announced via Twitter that he had signed a decree for the Police and the Army to work together to address and stop citizen insecurity, after holding a Council of Extraordinary Ministers.
“This decree allows the competent authorities to mobilize any external support necessary for the fulfillment of their mission,” explained Moses, who also requested support in this regard from the Organization of American States (OAS).