Haiti-Emerging Pride
10-3-1994
^Order Reigns in Major City After Haitian Cops Flee With PM-Haiti, Bjt; PM-Haiti-Police, Bjt AP Photo XCH103
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
CAP HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) _ Two days after Haitian police and soldiers fled this city, a U.S. Marine sat, stunned, in the hatch of his armored vehicle.
Instead of witnessing the chaos many feared would unfold in Haiti's second- largest city, the Marine watched women pick up brooms and shovels and clean the streets, and men turn in weapons they had taken from vacant homes of fleeing Haitian forces.
Volunteers also sought out Haitian soldiers and police who had gone into hiding, seized them and delivered them to the Marines. A few of the men, hated for having tortured and killed political opponents, were slapped around by crowds before being handed over, but not seriously injured.
Pride, and a sense of duty, are emerging among the residents of this port city on Haiti's north coast since the Haitian security forces departed, their iron-fisted rule unclenched after losing a firefight against U.S. Marines Saturday night in which 10 Haitian gunmen died.
"I didn't expect this," the Marine said Tuesday. "People are responding to their freedom. I think they care about their country. It's been really fascinating to watch."
The Marine, who was manning a guard post on Cap Haitien's main street, asked that his name not be used.
Gilbert Francais, 35, is a leader of one of the groups that have sprung up since Saturday night to rid the city of Haitian soldiers and police. The groups search homes, looking for fugitives and their weapons, then turn them over to the Marines.
Many soldiers and police reportedly have left the city, hiding out with relatives in the countryside. Others are staying in their homes, out of sight.
Francais' group found one man in his home Tuesday and marched him to a Marine guardpost as a crowd gathered.
As Francais held the man, called Helu by the crowd, by his shirt collar balled up in a fist, another man punched him in the back of the neck. Francais shouted at Helu's tormenter to keep away. Boys cavorted in front of the group, skipping along and laughing.
Another man punched Helu in the side. Francais swiped at the man, trying to protect his prisoner.
After Helu was delivered safely to the Marines, members of the vigilante group rushed to the bus station a few blocks away after hearing a Haitian soldier was trying to sneak away on a bus bound for Port-au-Prince.
The men clambered onto the hood of the crowded bus and poked their heads into side windows to peer in, but the man was not found.
In many cities around the world, the sudden departure of the police would be likely to cause fear.
But in Cap Haitien, it was the police who were feared, and their leaving has been met with relief. Only isolated incidents of looting have occurred since the police left.
Josiane Joseph, a shopkeeper in a poor neighborhood, has had no problems since the police left.
"It was worse before. The police would take things from here," said the 30-year-old woman, dressed in a clean white cotton dress and pointing to packets of cigarettes and cans of evaporated milk and vegetable juice neatly arrayed on rough wood shelves.
"They would say they didn't have any change and just leave," she said.
For Mrs. Joseph, who is living on the edge of poverty, having just one item stolen is serious business.
Asked if she was glad the police are gone, she laughed with delight.
"Yes! Yes!"
^Order Reigns in Major City After Haitian Cops Flee With PM-Haiti, Bjt; PM-Haiti-Police, Bjt AP Photo XCH103
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
CAP HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) _ Two days after Haitian police and soldiers fled this city, a U.S. Marine sat, stunned, in the hatch of his armored vehicle.
Instead of witnessing the chaos many feared would unfold in Haiti's second- largest city, the Marine watched women pick up brooms and shovels and clean the streets, and men turn in weapons they had taken from vacant homes of fleeing Haitian forces.
Volunteers also sought out Haitian soldiers and police who had gone into hiding, seized them and delivered them to the Marines. A few of the men, hated for having tortured and killed political opponents, were slapped around by crowds before being handed over, but not seriously injured.
Pride, and a sense of duty, are emerging among the residents of this port city on Haiti's north coast since the Haitian security forces departed, their iron-fisted rule unclenched after losing a firefight against U.S. Marines Saturday night in which 10 Haitian gunmen died.
"I didn't expect this," the Marine said Tuesday. "People are responding to their freedom. I think they care about their country. It's been really fascinating to watch."
The Marine, who was manning a guard post on Cap Haitien's main street, asked that his name not be used.
Gilbert Francais, 35, is a leader of one of the groups that have sprung up since Saturday night to rid the city of Haitian soldiers and police. The groups search homes, looking for fugitives and their weapons, then turn them over to the Marines.
Many soldiers and police reportedly have left the city, hiding out with relatives in the countryside. Others are staying in their homes, out of sight.
Francais' group found one man in his home Tuesday and marched him to a Marine guardpost as a crowd gathered.
As Francais held the man, called Helu by the crowd, by his shirt collar balled up in a fist, another man punched him in the back of the neck. Francais shouted at Helu's tormenter to keep away. Boys cavorted in front of the group, skipping along and laughing.
Another man punched Helu in the side. Francais swiped at the man, trying to protect his prisoner.
After Helu was delivered safely to the Marines, members of the vigilante group rushed to the bus station a few blocks away after hearing a Haitian soldier was trying to sneak away on a bus bound for Port-au-Prince.
The men clambered onto the hood of the crowded bus and poked their heads into side windows to peer in, but the man was not found.
In many cities around the world, the sudden departure of the police would be likely to cause fear.
But in Cap Haitien, it was the police who were feared, and their leaving has been met with relief. Only isolated incidents of looting have occurred since the police left.
Josiane Joseph, a shopkeeper in a poor neighborhood, has had no problems since the police left.
"It was worse before. The police would take things from here," said the 30-year-old woman, dressed in a clean white cotton dress and pointing to packets of cigarettes and cans of evaporated milk and vegetable juice neatly arrayed on rough wood shelves.
"They would say they didn't have any change and just leave," she said.
For Mrs. Joseph, who is living on the edge of poverty, having just one item stolen is serious business.
Asked if she was glad the police are gone, she laughed with delight.
"Yes! Yes!"
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