Two days after the tragedy in Canaan on August 26, 2023, where more than twenty people were killed and several others injured by gunfire, the Haitian National Police issued a public statement.
While the Je Klere Foundation, a human rights organization, laments that Protestant faithful responding to their pastor's call were massacred, injured, tortured, or kidnapped, the Director General of the PNH speaks of armed clashes.
"On Saturday, August 26, 2023, an immense crowd led by religious leader Marco Zidor, consisting of several hundred of his followers wearing jerseys with his name-logo, as well as individuals armed with machetes and others armed with olive-green uniforms, organized a spontaneous demonstration without notifying the Haitian National Police. This crowd reportedly aimed to dislodge gang members based in Canaan, led by an individual known as Jeff," reads the statement from the National Police, a copy of which was sent to the newspaper on Monday, August 28, 2023.
PNH Director General Frantz Elbé indicated that the police had taken measures by establishing security perimeters to prevent participants from reaching their destination and had engaged in talks to raise awareness among the organizers about the dangers of such an initiative, as the criminals possessed a war arsenal. "However, the protesters subsequently bypassed the security measures established by the law enforcement agencies and still reached the desired areas to confront members of the said gang. This confrontation resulted in gunshot deaths and several injuries among the protesters. Some faithful individuals were even kidnapped," the police director general stated in the note, condemning this "regrettable tragedy" and extending condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.
Furthermore, the PNH announced that a judicial investigation had already been opened at the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) to determine the responsibilities of all parties involved in this matter so that such irrational acts do not recur.
Je Klere Foundation Deplores the Massacre of the Faithful in Canaan
The Je Klere Foundation (FJKL) bitterly noted the painful events that occurred in the Canaan area north of Port-au-Prince on Saturday, August 26, where dozens of Protestant faithful responding to their pastor's call were massacred, injured, tortured, or kidnapped. "This march organized by the Piscine de Bethesda evangelical church led by Pastor Marcorel Zidor, alias Marco, was preceded by a pastoral speech advocating violence, urging citizens to arm themselves against each other to confront the armed gangs with violence.
These calls for violence, encouraging citizens to replace law enforcement agencies, have been multiplying lately with complete indifference from the established authorities, allowing society to deteriorate," FJKL lamented in a statement released on Sunday, August 27, 2023.
"FJKL reminds that inciting citizens to arm themselves against each other, provoking violence in pastoral speeches, are criminal acts provided for and punished by the Haitian Penal Code. Three to fifteen years of imprisonment is the penalty provided by law in this regard. It is time to enforce the law. Those who, through their speeches, provoked this massacre, as well as the perpetrators of this massacre, must be held accountable for their actions," urged the human rights organization.
The Croix-des-Bouquets Municipality Condemns
The municipal commission of Croix-des-Bouquets, chaired by Pervil Jean Wesnel Edrouine, vehemently condemns the massacre perpetrated by armed civilian groups from Canaan against a group of Protestant pilgrims under the initiative of Marcorel Zidor, alias Pastor Marco, on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
"The municipal commission was not informed verbally or in writing about these ill-considered movements. It is the personal decision of the pastor, who is a religious and opinion leader. The municipality did not receive a request for authorization to organize this march that turned into a tragedy," revealed Pervil Jean Wesnel Edrouine in a condolence note, a copy of which was sent to the newspaper.
"The municipal commission is well aware of its responsibility. The issue of security requires a lot of strategy, common sense, and careful planning. You don't wake up one morning and make a decision related to security," the note states.
Offering condolences to all the families of the deceased, the municipal commission of Croix-des-Bouquets calls on the judiciary and the government commissioner of the jurisdiction to take legal action against all actors and officials responsible for these regrettable acts.