THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ STRUGGLE IS RADICALIZING
by Yves Pierre-Louis

On Sep. 17, 2009, thousands of students, joined by teachers and members of progressive and revolutionary organizations, once again took to the streets of Port-au-Prince to denounce the occupation of the State University of Haiti (UEH) by the Haitian National Police (PNH). The demonstration ended with arrests, tear-gas, and police violence.

On Aug. 28, riot police stormed the School of Medicine and Pharmacology (FMP) which was occupied by medical students. The police then placed the FMP and the School of Ethnology (FE) under a lock-down, where vehicle and even most pedestrian traffic in and around school grounds was severely restricted. Students charge the police occupation is a gross violation of the University’s sovereignty, which is protected by law.

The quarantine was requested by the UEH administration which includes President Jean Henry Vernet, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Wilson Laleau, and Vice-President of Research Fritz Deshommes. The students are now demanding their resignations along with removal of the FMP’s deans, Dr. Gladys Prosper, Dr. Dodeley Sévere and Fritz Delafuente.

In early September, medical students launched a hunger strike to demand the resignations and other UEH reforms. Riot police intervened on Sep. 9 and arrested 22 students (see Haiti Liberté, 9/16/2009).

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