The arrest of René Préval and Senator Joseph Lambert, coordinator of the presidential platform INITE, the departure of the Minustah and the release of militants of the organization "Tèt Kole" that have been illegally arrested on February 7, 2011 during an anti-government demonstration in Port-au-Prince, are the main claims of more than a dozen political parties and organizations including: the Alternative Movement for Decentralization and Reconstruction (MADRE), the Regional Coordinating of the Organizations of SouthEast (CROSE), the collective of candidate of Southeast, UFSUDH, JAD, KOREKOB, COCCAJ, Fanm Decide, PLASOJ. REFOJ, Front Southeast, Sosyo pwofesyonèl, MRN etc.

Hundreds of protesters have invested the streets of Jacmel on Friday February 11 to get their claims. The protesters carried placards, banners and flags of Haiti, launching remarks against the head of the Haitian State and Senator Joseph Lambert, accusing them of bribery and embezzlement.

The agronomist Gerald Mathurin, former Minister of Agriculture of the Government of René Préval during his first term, in his statements in front of the trial court of Jacmel has sent a message to the Dean, Me Adeline Dougé François asking him to assume his responsibility vis-à-vis the public in order to track the petition that the representatives of organizations and the organizers members had been deposited the February 7 at the office of the Delegation of the Southeast and the court of first instance of Jacmel. Petition in which signatories say they do not recognize René Préval as President of Haiti from February 7, 2011.

Gerald Mathurin, the coordinator of the CROSE, continues to demand the resignation of ministers and directors general of government and demands that the delegates and vices delegates of the Department hand over the keys of their office in trial courts of their jurisdiction.

The militant Hervé Saintilus, candidate for deputy of the Artibonite who attended the demonstration, has explained "I'm in Jacmel in sign of solidarity and support to various movements around the country for forcing René Préval to leave power and demand the release of militants of the organization Tet Kole."

The demonstration ended in front of the the Minustah base of Jacmel, located on the "route de l'aviation" where protesters threw hostile rhetoric against soldiers of UN forces. The organizers are planning a new demonstration Wednesday, February 16 with the same objectives.

Note that last night, burning barricades were erected in some arteries of the city of Jacmel, especially at the entrance of the city and on the avenue Barranquilla.

Article by HL/ Claudy Bélizaire