Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as ‘Barbecue,’ has issued a stern caution to Kenya and other external entities contemplating a security intervention in the conflict-ridden Caribbean nation.
‘Barbecue’ asserts that the planned deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti for peacekeeping purposes would be fiercely resisted by the gangs, as they would view them as ‘intruders’ posing a danger to the lives of Haitian civilians.
“If the Kenyan military or police come, whatsoever, I will consider them, aggressors. We will consider them as invaders and we do not have to collaborate with any invaders that have come to walk over our independence,” Barbecue said in an interview with Sky News on Friday.
The gang leader also claimed that the presence of peacekeeping forces would exacerbate the ongoing conflict, as they lack an understanding of the complexities of the rivalry in Haiti. This, he warned, could lead to a massacre involving innocent civilians.
He indicated that Kenyan police and other international entities hold preconceived notions that they will be combating bandits and gangs, making it difficult for the gangs to engage in dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
“I believe that just like I said, if Kenyans come, first of all, they will come to commit massacres in the poor communities because the oligarchs and the corrupt politicians are going to tell them where to go…they are going to enter the poor communities on the pretext that they are coming to eliminate gangs and bandits,” he explained.
Despite noting that, together with other leaders, he is willing to have a peaceful dialogue to put an end to blood-shed in the Caribbean nation, ‘Barbecue’ who posed as a ‘people’s hero’ throughout the entire interview session, seemingly blamed the political class for escalated tension.
He says that the gangs could only engage if the plight of the people was put first and that all rival parties be heard at the same level.
“The political class say they are excluding bandits, that men with guns are not in it…we are ready for all solutions as long as Haitians are at the table. We are ready to sit and talk with everyone because we are not proud of what is happening in this country.” he stated.
At the same time, the fierce leader reiterated that he would not be cowed saying, “Every new day that passes we have to come up with a new strategy so that we can advance.”
“But there is no calm. In the days that are coming things will get worse than they are right now because as long as they choose not to put everyone on the table for us to talk it is the same system that will regenerate.”
The remarks by ‘Barbecue’ come amidst surging deaths resulting from gang violence.
This year alone, the U.N. human rights has reported that over 1,500 people have been killed including many children, while dozens have been lynched, stoned or burned alive by so-called self-defence brigades.
