the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Sep 16, 2024
This article is taken from La Voix des Travailleurs, issue #318, September 6, 2024, published in Haiti by the Organization of Revolutionary Workers (OTR-UCI).
Encouraged by the latest combat equipment received from the United States, Prime Minister Gary Conille and National Police Director Normil Rameau have launched an eviction operation in the stronghold of one of the criminal groups, “Viv Ansanm,” in Bel-Air, Bas de Delmas, and Solino. This offensive stance contrasts sharply with the previous years when the police would capitulate at the first sign of gunfire from the gangs. After sharp criticism directed at the United States for providing insufficient resources to the government and the Multinational Security Support Mission in their fight against gangs, new armored vehicles and other combat materials have arrived in Port-au-Prince. It is a reinvigorated and optimistic Prime Minister, acting like a war leader, who has welcomed the start of these operations, which he claims aim to clear out the gangs house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city.
Six days later, the public knows little about the progress of these battles. The government communicates infrequently. On social media, gangs are spreading information suggesting that they still control the situation, while other reports indicate the contrary. In the Solino neighborhood, under the pressure of a gang, there is also talk of some residents showing sympathy for the police. However, this is far from the shockwave of April 24, 2023, which awakened the consciousness of a portion of the popular masses in Port-au-Prince and other cities. The capture and incapacitation of a dozen extremists had initiated Operation “Bwa Kale.” Mobilized with all available resources and supported by local police officers, the population quickly routed the gangs, who fled in all directions, abandoning their weapons along the way.
Time has passed. The gangs have resurfaced with the complicity of the elite, politicians, and the police. Today, they may be more numerous, better armed, better organized, and more experienced. But among the popular masses, they are only a minority. Their strength is tied to the lack of initiative from the population.
While the need of the popular masses to end gang violence may align with the current rhetoric of the police and government, it would be naive to trust these leaders. Subject to various influences, infiltrated and corrupted, they have repeatedly shown that they lack both the will and the means to defeat the criminals.
The fight against gangs must involve the popular masses organizing themselves, with their own plan, knowing that they will be the most determined to see it through to the end; to uproot all exploitative criminals, big or small.