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A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 16 February 2019
Haiti to unveil economic measures to quell violent protests

By EVENS SANON tion and the government's
Associated Press failure to prosecute embez-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti zlement from a multi-billion
(AP) — Haitians on Friday dollar Venezuelan program
vowed to keep protesting that sent discounted oil to
until President Jovenel Moi- Haiti. Few believe the gov-
se resigns, despite his an- ernment will take any steps
nouncement of upcoming to alleviate the crisis.
economic measures de- "The president has been
signed to quell more than a lying to the nation," said
week of violent demonstra- Marco Jean-Baptiste, a
tions across the country. 41-year-old mechanic who
Moise said during a tele- has been unable to work
vised address late Thursday since the demonstrations
that he would not surren- began and worries about
der the country to armed his three children.
gangs and drug dealers, Protesters continued to
and he accused people of block roads across Haiti as
freeing prisoners to kill him. food, water and gas be-
It was the first time Moise came scarce. Schools, busi-
had spoken since the dem- nesses and government of-
onstrations began, and he fices remain closed.
made another call for dia- Widler Saintil, a 35-year-old
logue with the opposition. shop owner, said he has
"I heard the voice of the In this Feb. 7, 2019 photo, thousands of demonstrators march in the street as they chant anti- been forced to reduce the
government slogans during a protest to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise and
people. I know the prob- demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administra- amount of food he eats
lems that torment them. tions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. because he can't afford to
That's why the government Associated Press buy as much milk, bread,
has taken a lot of mea- sugar, rice or beans as be-
sures," he said. "I asked the ment them without delay in Henry Ceant will share de- The announcement comes fore. He also has been un-
Prime Minister to come and order to relieve misery." tails of the new economic as protesters remain angry able to work or send his two
explain them and imple- He said Prime Minister Jean- measures Friday. about skyrocketing infla- children to school.q

Migrants held in northern Mexico scuffle with police guards

Associated Press Joe Rivano Barros, a field of-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Police ficer with the Texas-based
briefly scuffled with some of refugee advocacy group
the 1,600 Central American Raices, said the migrants
migrants who have been are frustrated because of
confined at an improvised a lack of information and
shelter in the Mexican bor- lack of free movement.
der town of Piedras Negras, "It's monotonous, it's like liv-
across from Eagle Pass, ing in a prison," Rivano Bar-
Texas. ros said of the migrants he
Video of Wednesday's inci- has spoken to through the
dent shows some migrants chain-link fence at the shel-
tearing down a temporary ter. His group, which offers
awning and trying to wres- free legal services to mi-
tle metal barricades away grants, is not allowed inside
from police. the shelter. Mexico's fed-
The government of the eral government had said
border state of Coahui- previously that the migrants
la said the situation was were not being allowed
brought under control and out of the shelter except
talks were held with the under escort because most
migrants, who have been did not have humanitar-
confined for at least 10 ian transit visas, while other
days in a vacant factory groups of Central Ameri-
building that is ringed by Central American immigrant families look out through the fence of a shelter in Piedras Negras, cans have waited at the
police and soldiers. Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Mexico-Guatemala border
Authorities said some of Associated Press to apply for such visas. But
the migrants were angry after a few hundred mi-
about not being allowed ment said it would not hesi- we will not allow disrespect Mexico, presumably think- grants at the shelter got hu-
out to go to a local store. tate to turn over migrants for the law," state security ing they would have more manitarian visas, most still
They said about 30 were to Mexican immigration secretary Jose Luis Pliego freedom of movement. weren't allowed to freely
later permitted to go to the authorities for deportation said. "We will act rigorously, The migrants want to pres- come and go at the shel-
store, where migrants buy if there were any more dis- if needed." ent asylum claims in Eagle ter. Migrants frustrated by
supplies to supplement the turbances. Officials said some migrants Pass, but only about a doz- the lack of information and
food they are given at the "We have put a lot of effort have asked to be taken en per day are being al- confinement have asked
shelter. Coahuila's govern- into maintaining order and to other cities in northern lowed to do so. to go elsewhere.q