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October-03-2002
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Tear gas used to quell onrush for Haiti police jobs
21 avril 2004
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Police fired tear gas, and U.S. Marines blocked the entrance of the police academy Tuesday as hundreds of candidates stormed the building in the Haitian capital during a recruiting drive.
The police used batons to beat back recruits and called off the recruiting drive after several people reportedly were injured.
Haiti’s interim government began the drive Monday in an effort to replenish the nation’s depleted police force. Hundreds of officers, fearing reprisal attacks because of their loyalties to ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, fled their posts when rebels launched an armed rebellion that ousted Aristide on Feb. 29.
Most of Haiti’s 8 million people lack jobs and live on less than $1 a day, fueling desperation among the masses.
"We were shoved back. The police attacked us," said Louis Hubert, 29, an electrician and plumber who was among the potential recruits. "There were lots of gunshots. There was also tear gas, plus they beat us with their batons." |
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Topic: Stampede in Haiti
