Hours after the failed coup attempt, government supporters armed themselves with machetes and sticks, taking to the streets to harass members of the opposition, including figures from the
Struggling People's Organization (OPL) and
Democratic Convergence, as well as the media. Local radio stations in the capital of
Port-au-Prince were threatened with destruction and journalists faced violent reprisals while the homes of many opposition figures and offices were attacked, looted, and burned. As a result, many members of the press went into hiding for their own safety, with some even seeking refuge in foreign embassies. According to Reporters Without Borders, the systematic nature of the attacks suggests the deliberate targeting of the press by demonstrators, indicating a concerted effort to suppress freedom of the press and silence dissent. Journalists affected include: • Thony Bélizaire (
AFP photographer), Patrick Moussignac, Guérin Alexandre, Jean-Elie Moléus (Radio Caraïbes), and Guyler Delva (President of the
Association of Haitian Journalists), who were all threatened with violence from armed demonstrators. • Maxo Exil (
Haiti Press Network Agency), who was held at gunpoint and threatened with death. • Roger Damas (
Radio Ibo), who was forced to surrender his press ID and cell phone. • Pharès Duverné, Robert Philomé, and Yves Clausel Alexis (Radio Vision 2000), who were all coerced into shouting pro-Aristide slogans. • Abel Descollines (
Radio Galaxie), who went into hiding after receiving threats of execution. Gaston Janvier (RECAP) faced similar dangers. • Radio Metropole reporters, who were attacked and held at gunpoint by government partisans driving state-owned vehicles. Due to the grave threats of violence, multiple radio stations –
Radio Quisqueya,
Radio Metropole,
Radio Vision 2000,
Radio Signal FM, and
Radio Caraïbes – were forced to halt broadcasts temporarily. Radio Caraïbes in particular halted its operations for days.
Condemnation Initially, international observers condemned the coup attempt. Following the retaliatory attacks committed by government supporters however, reactions shifted to addressing the violence against opposition parties and media. The outpouring of reactions domestically and abroad is as follows: • Women's rights organizations, namely ENFOFANM, KAY FANM, and SOFA, questioned the legitimacy of the purported coup attempt and condemned the violence, likening the tactics used during the Duvalier dictatorship • Human's rights organizations, such as the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and
Human Rights Watch, stressed the government's duty to protect human rights and called for a thorough investigation into the violence.
Amnesty International demanded the Haitian government uphold the rule of law • Press organizations, including the
Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) and
National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH), reported threats against journalists and condemned the violence against the media • The international community, including the United States (US), European Union (EU), and France, largely condemned the violence and attacks that occurred in Haiti. The Dominican Republic denied involvement in the coup and affirmed their support to Aristide's administration In response the Minister of Culture and Communication Guy Paul expressed regret over the violence but justified it as the consequences of public outrage. By December 18, everyday life in the capital had returned to normal. Shops and banks reopened, and the roadblocks that had been set up during the unrest were removed from the streets. ==See also==