Haiti Shuts Down Schools

The government closed all schools today and warned that the military would crush all demonstrations in an attempt to halt a wave of protests that has claimed at least five lives since November.

“The army and militia forces will energetically (put down) all forms of demonstrations all over the country,” Interior Minister Pierre Merceron said in one of the strongest statements issued by the government of Jean-Claude Duvalier. Thousands of students boycotted classes Tuesday on the first day of the new semester. They were protesting poor living conditions and a referendum that increased Duvalier’s power.