Education
Haiti: Martelly-Student Clash "regrettable" and "deplorable" says University Rector
- Sunday, February 19, 2012 6:49 PM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – Rector at the State University of Haiti, Jean Vernet Henry, regretted the event that occurred on Friday at the School of Ethnology between students and a crowd that accompanied President Michel Martelly.
For the university official it was deplorable that rocks were thrown at the president and entourage but at the same time, Henry wishes the visit had been done under institutional protocols.
”This is an incident that is truly regrettable.”
”Well I haven’t received all of the information but I understand the president was going to the School of Ethnology, and in any case, it is not normal that they throw rocks at the entourage of the president.”
”And there are institutional problems too. If the president was going to go to the School of Ethnology, that I believe that he should have announced it that he was going to the school. At this time there would have been measures taken.”
”For us, it is a regrettable incident that we deplore.”
”Although no one would invite these incidents, I believe things should be done institutionally. That means, for the president if he is going to a school he announces it or reports it to the rector that he is coming to the school and at that time dispositions would be taken to receive him correctly.”
An international symposium with professors from France, Brazil and other countries of the world was being held at the university. President Michel Martelly was accompanied by a crowd that travelled on foot to the university chanting “Martelly, the country is for you!”
It was reported that the president was told that he couldn’t enter the premises and it was at that time a melee ensued. It was reported that students through rocks at the president and his supporters and the presidential guard fired automatic weapons into the air. The president’s supported through rocks as well and vandalized university property.
Dr. Henry was asked about student injuries:
”What I have for this information is that there was a student that fainted, I was told that there were students who were injured running and things like that but I don’t have any other information…”
Dr. Henry said he employed the services of the Red Cross to evacuate people that were inside. The professor says continues to say that the position of the university is that it was a regrettable and abnormal incident. He feels that the Office of the President should have notified university officials so that proper measures could have been taken.
The vandalism of the property was most distressing to university officials already working with limited means.
Related 02.17.2012: Haiti: Violence Erupts between Students and President's Entourage
Related 02.16.2012: Haiti: President Martelly Calls on the People to Defend His Power
