Haitians march in favor of constitution as it turns 34 and president seeks overhaul

Thousands of Haitians took to the streets in the capital and multiple cities again Sunday, this time to defend their country’s constitution and reject Haitian President Jovenel Moïse’s proposed referendum to introduce a new magna carta.

With a heavy police presence stationed throughout the protest route in Port-au-Prince, protesters demanded respect for the current constitution and yelled “Down with dictatorship” as militants burned tires and tore down recently mounted billboards promoting the upcoming constitutional referendum scheduled for June 27 ahead of legislative, local and presidential elections scheduled for the fall.

Moïse has unveiled multiple proposed changes in a draft constitution to overhaul the country’s Constitution that, among other things, restructures the government and gives greater powers to the presidency. However, the proposal comes amid growing unrest and distrust of Moïse by many Haitians, and calls from the United States for him to end his rule by decree by holding legislative elections to restore parliament.

Marching through the street to the beat of a Carnival band, protesters waved miniature Haitian flags while singing in Creole, “No, no, we will not go. No, no, we will not go. We will not go to elections until Jovenel goes to prison.”

Protesters also continued their calls for Moïse’s departure, insisting that his presidency ended last month — he says he still has a year left — while expressing anger over corruption, kidnappings, rising inflation and what many deem as interference by the international community that support him. Holding up hand-written signs decrying the United States and the United Nations, some protesters went as far as calling on Russia for help.

“No to dictatorship, live democracy, live the Constitution,” a thinned-out crowd yelled after arriving at the Constitutional Plaza on the Champ de Mars at the conclusion of the four-hour march. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article250270690.html