Haiti violence: Gangs free 4,000 inmates in mass jailbreak
BBC NewsMar 03
Haiti Declares State of Emergency After Mass Jailbreak
The Facts
Haiti's government declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed the country's two largest prisons and freed thousands of inmates, including murderers and kidnappers.
A night curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time has also been imposed as part of its effort "to take appropriate measures" to regain control and restore law and order, as gang violence further deteriorates the security situation in the Port-au-Prince metro area.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Armed bandits have orchestrated acts of violence and terror to cause chaos and panic in Haiti. Ruthless gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince and are fighting to seize the rest to delay forming inclusive governance and restoring democracy in the country. The mass prison break and upsurge in violence underlines the need for the UN to deploy a multinational security force to bring peace to Haiti and make it gang-free.
Establishment-critical narrative
Deploying a multinational security force in Haiti would legitimize the unelected leaders of Port-au-Prince. Prime Minister Henry must immediately step down to allow a fresh, credible transitional government to emerge and create the conditions for free and fair elections. Until leaders unaffiliated with gangs form a functional government in Haiti, hope and stability will continue to elude an impoverished nation.