Haiti Crisis: 2 Journalists Killed as Gang Violence Worsens

The Haiti crisis continues, as the gang violence in the country has resulted in the killing of two journalists in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which, according to the U.N., has 60% of its territory now controlled by various gangs.

This was revealed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which stated that the first victim is radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint, who was fatally shot in mid-April. The second journalist killed in the country recently was identified as journalist Ricot Jean, who was found dead on Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killings, with its program director, Carlos Martínez de la Serna, stating, "The security crisis in the country is putting journalists at a constant risk of extreme violence. It is the authorities' responsibility to make sure reporters can do their jobs without fear of violence."

The killings were also condemned by the National Association of Haitian Media, which stated that the "climate of tolerated and fueled violence" led to Kersaint's death. The late journalist was an online journalist for Radio Tele INUREP.

As for Ricot Jean, he worked for Radio-Tele Evolution Inter. He was reportedly kidnapped last Monday, with his body being discovered the very next daym according to the Associated Press.

So far, 21 journalists have been killed in Haiti from 2000 to 2022. Nine of these happened last year, making 2022 the deadliest year for journalists in Haiti.

Haiti Police Condemned Recent Killings of Suspected Gang Members

As the Haiti crisis continues, gangs are invading the capital from the outside, raping and pillaging the areas they conquer. Gang violence has citizens frustrated, forcing many of them to take up arms and hand out some vigilante justice.

One example was the incident that happened earlier this week, where an angry mob beat up and burned to death 13 suspected gang members trying to enter Port-Au-Prince.

An earlier incident also had another angry mob burn the bodies of six suspected gang members after they were killed in a shootout with Haitian police.

Now, police have condemned this vigilante violence. According to ABC News, Garry Desrosiers, spokesman for Haiti's National Police, spoke at a news conference and told citizens, "If anyone hears anything, please advise the police," before adding, "Do not take justice into your own hands."

He also stated that anti-gang operations will continue and urged citizens to "contact police if they see unusual activity or people they don't recognize in their neighborhoods."

The police spokesman also said that "he understands people's anger and frustration over ongoing gang violence" and acknowledged that many of them have been victimized and suffering.

U.N. Warned That Gang Violence in Haiti Is Expanding at an Alarming Rate

In a new report to the U.N. Security Council, U.N. Warned That Gang Violence in Haiti Is Expanding at an Alarming Rate, stated, "Gang violence is expanding at an alarming rate in areas previously considered relatively safe in Port-au-Prince and outside the capital."

She added that lynchings, rooftop snipers, and child murders have since increased as the Haiti crisis drags on.

The figures come from the Haitian National Police and the United Nations, and it stated that violent crimes have more than doubled in the first quarter of 2023, with 1,647 incidences, compared to 692 in the same period in 2022.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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