Over a dozen alleged gang members stoned, burned alive in Haiti
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00 Half a dozen bodies being burned on the streets of Haiti's capital, victims of vigilante justice.
00:07 Supposed gang members killed in broad daylight and then set on fire by residents, according
00:12 to witnesses.
00:14 Those who live in the neighborhood ready to fight back.
00:17 "If the gangs come to invade us, we will defend ourselves.
00:23 We have our own weapons.
00:24 We have our machetes.
00:25 We will take their weapons.
00:26 We will not run away.
00:28 Those who want to protect their children can send them elsewhere."
00:33 The violence had started in the early hours of the morning, when criminal gangs burst
00:37 into several homes and attacked residents.
00:41 Hours later, police stopped and searched a minibus supposedly containing several gang
00:45 members.
00:46 According to officials, a mob saw this as a chance for revenge.
00:51 During a search of a minibus in which there were armed individuals, the police confiscated
00:55 weapons and other equipment.
00:57 In addition, more than a dozen individuals travelling in this vehicle were unfortunately
01:01 lynched by members of the population.
01:05 The violence underlines the increasingly lawless situation in Port-au-Prince.
01:10 Criminal gangs have taken control over an estimated 60% of the city since the assassination
01:15 of President Jovenel Moise nearly two years ago.
01:19 On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the deployment
01:24 of an international armed force to Haiti in a desperate attempt to temper the escalating
01:29 violence.
01:30 It comes as a UN report highlighted the surge in murders and kidnappings in the country
01:35 with special emphasis on Siti Saleh, an area of the capital that has become besieged by
01:40 gangs who are blocking access in and out.
01:43 Locals terrorised by the violence are afraid to venture out of their homes.
01:47 According to the UN, reported kidnappings have nearly doubled in the country in the
01:51 last three months and homicides have gone up by 21%.