by Kim Ives (Haiti Liberte)
Shots rang out during a
demonstration on Nov. 16 on Rue Oswald Durand near the Economy and Finance
Ministry Annex, in front of the State University’s Law School.
demonstration on Nov. 16 on Rue Oswald Durand near the Economy and Finance
Ministry Annex, in front of the State University’s Law School.
Afterwards,
Daniel Stanley Florestal, 19, lay dead. His body is still lying in the state
hospital’s morgue.
Daniel Stanley Florestal, 19, lay dead. His body is still lying in the state
hospital’s morgue.
At
first, students on the scene claimed that soldiers of the UN Mission to
Stabilize Haiti (MINUSTAH) had shot and killed Florestal, whose name, they said
at the time, was “Jonas.”
first, students on the scene claimed that soldiers of the UN Mission to
Stabilize Haiti (MINUSTAH) had shot and killed Florestal, whose name, they said
at the time, was “Jonas.”
However, MINUSTAH denied all
responsibility: “According to information received by MINUSTAH, a Haitian
citizen was shot and killed during a gathering of people that took place today
in the vicinity of the Faculty of Law in Port -au-Prince,” said a MINUSTAH
statement. “The person was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead later.
Contrary to initial allegations, we confirm that no member of MINUSTAH fired on
the person.”
responsibility: “According to information received by MINUSTAH, a Haitian
citizen was shot and killed during a gathering of people that took place today
in the vicinity of the Faculty of Law in Port -au-Prince,” said a MINUSTAH
statement. “The person was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead later.
Contrary to initial allegations, we confirm that no member of MINUSTAH fired on
the person.”
Meanwhile,
Frantz Lerebours, spokesman for the Haitian National Police (PNH), told the
Alterpresse news agency that the victim was a “thug” and that another
man who had been with him, Leveque Sanon, had been shot and “is currently
in the hands of the police.”
Frantz Lerebours, spokesman for the Haitian National Police (PNH), told the
Alterpresse news agency that the victim was a “thug” and that another
man who had been with him, Leveque Sanon, had been shot and “is currently
in the hands of the police.”
According
to the version the PNH gave Alterpresse: “An individual killed the bandit
who was assaulting another citizen. This version is contrary to initial reports
that suggest that the individual was killed by agents of the [PNH’s] Corps for
Intervention and Maintenance of Order (CIMO) and the MINUSTAH.”
to the version the PNH gave Alterpresse: “An individual killed the bandit
who was assaulting another citizen. This version is contrary to initial reports
that suggest that the individual was killed by agents of the [PNH’s] Corps for
Intervention and Maintenance of Order (CIMO) and the MINUSTAH.”
But
the police were responsible for the death of Daniel, according to a woman at
the scene who spoke with Le Nouvelliste’s
Roberson Alphonse: “MINUSTAH shot rubber bullets at us all morning,”
she testified. “But, I tell you, it was the PNH who killed the
student.”
the police were responsible for the death of Daniel, according to a woman at
the scene who spoke with Le Nouvelliste’s
Roberson Alphonse: “MINUSTAH shot rubber bullets at us all morning,”
she testified. “But, I tell you, it was the PNH who killed the
student.”
The
victim had blood stains on the front and back of his shirt.
victim had blood stains on the front and back of his shirt.
Daniel
Stanley Florestal lived with his mother in the Christ-Roi section of
Port-au-Prince. He had not yet finished his secondary studies and was not going
to school at the time. But he often turned out for student protests, and many
students knew him.
Stanley Florestal lived with his mother in the Christ-Roi section of
Port-au-Prince. He had not yet finished his secondary studies and was not going
to school at the time. But he often turned out for student protests, and many
students knew him.
After
he was shot, students loaded Daniel into the back of a pickup to take him to
the hospital.
he was shot, students loaded Daniel into the back of a pickup to take him to
the hospital.
Until
now, Florestal’s family has refused to retrieve his body from the morgue. They
say they are afraid and claim to have received many threats from people “close
to the government.”
now, Florestal’s family has refused to retrieve his body from the morgue. They
say they are afraid and claim to have received many threats from people “close
to the government.”
Daniel Stanley Florestal was shot during a student demonstration on
Nov. 16.
Nov. 16.
Students loaded Florestal into the back of a pick-up which took him to
the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Photos by: Frantz Etienne/Haïti Liberté
