25 Sisters Residences Attacked By Gunmen

Haiti - Security : 25 Sisters residences attacked by gunmen...
(Haiti Libre) - 07/03/2015 12:51:40

In a letter dated March 5, 2015, the Haitian Religious Conference (CHR), which includes 96 congregations (more than 3,000 Sisters, Brothers and Fathers of 30 different nationalities), denounces the wave of trials, injustice and persecution, which falls on religious communities across the country where several religious houses "have been systematically robbed and the religious insulted, humiliated and beaten by gunmen."

The RHC recalled that "from October 2014 to the present day, 25 Sisters residences have been attacked, some several times, as well as the Charismatic Renewal Center in Tabarre. This is almost always the same scenario that reproduces, at night or at dawn men armed with guns, spears and sticks, intimidate, insult, brutalize nuns and religious and took away everything they find as money destined in many cases to our works to the benefit of the population. Some victims have even been hospitalized.

This is not the first time this has happened to us. Shortly before, there had been cases of robberies, kidnappings and murders of nuns and religious, but these days, it takes the form of a skillfully orchestrated phenomenon and it is clear that we are targeted . This makes us even more harm that neither the elderly nuns, worn in the work for the people, nor the female congregations or foreign congregations were spared. The most serious case is that of the Montfort Institute dealing with deaf and dumb and which has been attacked 5 times increasing the trauma of these deficient and staff. A sister is currently in a coma in St Raphael."

More recently, last Wednesday night, gunmen broke into the residence of the Sisters in Verrettes and stole a sum of money and equipment. 7 individuals have been arrested in connection with the investigation. On the night of 23 to 24 February, the residence of the Sisters of the Holy Union, in Saint-Michel de l'Attalaye was attacked again, the bandits left with money, jewelry and other objects after having beaten religious... same scenario in January, where the Sisters of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite have been attacked at night, in the latter case, the perpetrators were arrested and brought to the investigative office.

In total, 16 communities for 29 consecutive cases were identified. Department Center: Mirebalais, Saut d’eau, Boucan Carré, Pandiassou. Department Grand’Anse : Marfran. South Department : Vieux Bourg d’Aquin, Maniche. Département du Nord : Saint Raphael. Département de Artibonite : Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, Estère, Verettes, Saint Michel. Department of the West : Croix-des-Bouquets, Kenskoff, Delmas, Marin, Tabarre, Sibert.

The Cardinal Chibly regrets that "These brigands show no respect for the dignity of the human person in general and in particular, to the lives of people who are devoted to the Lord at the service to others [...]"

The Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) proposes 24 hours of continuous prayer on 13 and 14 March "It will be a gesture of compassion, of deep communion and effective solidarity with religious people or other victims of aggression and violence. Stand firm in prayer so that are strengthened your faith and charity..."

Government authorities, remains strangely silent about the proliferation of these targeted actions against religious... In turn, the police claimed to have made arrangements around residences of religious...

Also during the first weekend of March, 4 people, including voodoo priests, were lynched and killed with machetes and burned by members of the population in the commune of Chardonnière (South), accused of causing a fatal motorcycle accident by acts of witchcraft...