Weekly Report - 9 December 2003

Political violence continued throughout last week in Haiti's main cities. In Gonaí¯ves, where the mayoralty was set alight on Tuesday, the opposition Front de Résistance reported that four of its activists had been murdered; they blamed the police. On 5 December in Port-au-Prince police stood by while a pro-Aristide mob raided the state university's sciences building where students were preparing a protest demonstration. Sixteen students were injured by gunfire, and a score more were forced to kneel and beaten. Also among the injured was the dean, Pierre Marie Paquiot, his deputy, Wilson Laleau, and two journalists. Police inspector-general Woody Bertomieu said his force had been helpless because it is barred from entering the university.