Haitian gang leader proposes to lay down arms and begin national dialogue

Port-au-Prince, Jul 5 (EFE) – Former Haitian police officer Jimmy Chérizier, the most powerful armed gang leader in the country, told interim Prime Minister Garry Conille on Friday that he would lay down his arms to initiate a national dialogue to restore peace.

«We have decided to publicly announce that our strategy of laying down arms to facilitate national dialogue and promote peace is already written in black and white on our agenda,» Chérizier, alias Barbecue, who heads the armed gang coalition Vivre Ensemble (Living Together), told the press.

Wearing a maroon jacket and glasses, Barbecue seemed different from how he usually appears, armed and ready for battle. Instead, on Friday, his tone and gestures were different as he repeated the call for dialogue.

«We are ready to elect a credible and coherent Haitian citizen in the diaspora to facilitate the dialogue to end this mafia war and facilitate the road to peace in the country,» he insisted.

Too many divisions, disagreements, and conflicts among local actors led the international community to seek out Garry Conille and install him as prime minister while denouncing the «political and economic mafia that is holding the country hostage.»

«We want peace because we want to destroy war. We want dialogue because we want peace. All those who do not want dialogue have participated in the war,» said the gang leader.

Barbecue also admitted to having made «several mistakes» in his activities as a gang leader.

«Why does this man, Dr. Garry Conille, not take advantage of the national dialogue to end the war and bring peace to the whole country?» he asked.

«Only through national dialogue will the Haitian state be able to regain control of the country’s territories, as required by the current constitution,» Barbecue added.

The G9 and Vivre Ensemble gang leader also took some time to praise the merits of Garry Conille, and reiterated that the armed gangs should be considered rebel forces.

«Let’s focus on the real solution: a national dialogue in which every Haitian, without discrimination, has the right to speak,» he said.

«This is what the mafias do not want. They don’t want dialogue because they want to continue the war,» Barbecue added, without explaining who these «mafias» are.

Chérizier is accused of several massacres and murders. His nickname comes from the fact that he used to burn his opponents in an oven.

The gang leader’s most recent crime – for which he has claimed responsibility – was the killing of three policemen from the National Police’s elite anti-gang unit in their stronghold of Delmas 18, Sans Fil, on June 9.

In February, the armed coalition Vivre Ensemble created a situation of terror in Haiti, clashing with the police, destroying and burning police stations, and driving thousands of residents from their homes.

The center of Port-au-Prince has been destroyed by the terror of the armed gangs that dominate much of the capital.

A first contingent of Kenyan police officers has been in Port-au-Prince for more than a week, part of a vanguard of 1,000 agents from that country who, together with members of the security forces of other nations, will form a multinational mission to help the Haitian authorities regain control of the country.EFE

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