Peaceful Anti-UN Cholera Protestors Gassed by Haitian Police and UN

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres, the historic turning point in Haiti's Revolutionary War that led to eventual victory and independence. To commemorate the day, my partners on the ground and many grassroots based organizations planned a peaceful protest in Port-au-Prince. They gathered in the Champ de Mars near Haiti's presidential palace in the downtown of the capital.

According to Mark Snyder from International Action ties, a member of the Haiti Response Coalition, the peaceful anti-UN cholera demonstration was subject to a major tear gas attack by the Haitian National Police and UN peacekeepers in the MINUSTAH mission.

Protestors thew rocks towards a truckload of MINUSTAH, not hitting anyone (most rocks fell short). As a truckload of MINUSTAH soldiers pulled away, three soldiers fell off because they weren't prepared for the vehicle to move. The UN peacekeepers then shot 2 teargas canisters level at the crowd, one bounced off the ground and hit Mark in the knee (no injury, thank goodness).

At least a dozen gas canisters were shot off, about 10 by the Haitian police. Mark called MINUSTAH's hotline and asked them to get the soldiers away from the demo to reduce tension, at this time (11am) people are still running in all directions around the Chanmas, downtown PAP.