By Alix Israel, Press Lakay, Dec. 25, 2024
RENAMEL condemned the attack orchestrated by armed criminal gangs against the General Hospital during the attempt to reopen it on Tuesday where several journalists and law enforcement officers were killed and others seriously injured.
In the aftermath of the armed attack orchestrated against the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH), commonly known as the "General Hospital", during the attempt to reopen it by the Minister of Public Health on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, members of the government, civil society organizations and public figures did not stop denouncing the act deemed "terrorist" and "barbaric".
In a statement, the National Online Media Network (RENAMEL) condemned in the strongest terms the attack that left several victims, including journalists who were exercising their profession. The organization that operates in the online media sector stressed that this is a severe blow to the Haitian press.
“This new bloody attack has once again cast a shadow over the Haitian press and dealt a severe blow to press freedom in the country. The assassination of these two journalists, who were only carrying out their duties, is a despicable act that cannot go unpunished. But also, the murder of this police officer in the scene of a clash with bandits seeking to harm the proper functioning of society.” wrote RENAMEL.
The bandits identified as members of the armed criminal gang “5 Secondes” orchestrated the attack as the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Duckenson Lorthe BLEMA was preparing to reopen the General Hospital. The event which coincided with Christmas Eve had brought together several press personnel. Two of them were cowardly killed and others seriously injured.
Online media journalists Jimmy Jean and Mackendy Natou have been identified as those killed. A police officer who was also at the scene, Daniel Renaud, was also shot dead.
Following this attack by criminal gangs who stormed the largest public hospital in the country, RENAMEL urged the competent authorities to take all necessary measures to put an end to this widespread insecurity and track down the perpetrators of these criminal acts.
At the same time, RENAMEL recalled that many Haitian journalists face threats and intimidation on a daily basis. A situation that constitutes a serious obstacle to democracy and the exercise of freedom of expression.
A few hours after the attack on the public health institution, dysfunctional for several months due to the worsening security crisis, the Haitian government reacted in a press release by declaring that the perpetrators of the abominable crime will be hunted down.
Since the escalation of violence in late February, the metropolitan area has resembled a war zone. The criminal armed gangs that terrorize the Haitian population on a daily basis continue to seize more territory while the authorities concerned announce that they are taking concrete measures to stop them.
Faced with this alarming situation, RENAMEL has launched an appeal to the international community to support the Haitian people in this fight against banditry and to provide assistance in restoring order and security in Haiti.
Translated by CHIP editors
Posted Jan. 12, 2025