Haiti - FLASH : National Assembly postponed «sine die» due to violence
Tuesday's session in National Assembly convened at noon, which was to decide the fate of Jocelerme Privert whose term came to an end on June 14, was postponed "sine die" for reasons of insecurity. Hundreds of protesters who claimed to be pro Privert (including "Pitit Dessalin" or clan Lavalas and other grassroots organizations), gathered around 2:00 pm front Parliament to express their support for the President de facto Privert, waving placards and shouting slogans against the opposition and parliamentarians "badly elected" highly motivated, threw stones and bottles at the Parliament which led to a panic situation in Parliament among security officers, deputies, senators and staff.
Senators evoked insecurity as a pretext for reversing the quorum including Jacques Sauveur Jean, Youri Latortue, Carl Murat Cantave and Onondieu Louis. Several senators have preferred to leave the Parliament, some calling for more force and others have even unsheathed their weapons.
These incidents that created a lively tension at bicentenary occurred despite security barriers erected and a strong presence of officers of the Corps of Intervention and Maintenance of Order (CIMO). Michel-Ange Gédéon the Director General a.i. of the PNH announced sanctions against the police officers responsible for having failed to their tasks because he says "despite the many security provisions adopted to ensure a smooth running of the session, some have failed in their duty, which enabled these disorders."
Senator Cantave , believes this is a conspiracy by the Palace in complicity with the PNH, who feared a decision against Privert, to prevent the National Assembly to be held. For Sen. Fritz Carlos Lebon, the reasons given by the minority group of Senators are just an excuse not to attend the session, claiming Privert had a majority of senators and deputies supporting its cause to keep him in power.
Ronald Larèche the Senate Vice-President acting as President a.i. announced the indefinite postponement (sine die) of the National Assembly, announcement confirmed by Cholzer Chancy, the President of the Lower House, which stressed that the conditions were not met for the holding of the Assembly.
