Haitian Mob Targets Hydroelectric Plant, Darkens Capital
An irate mob in Haiti stormed a hydroelectric power facility in Milevalai on Wednesday, resulting in a blackout that affected the capital, Port-au-Prince.
This event echoes a similar situation from May, when locals in Mirebalais surrounded the Perigre Dam to protest police inaction amidst violent gang activities. In late March, gangs had overrun the area, causing numerous fatalities, destroying homes, and seizing local prisons.
The Perigre Dam, an aging structure from the 1950s, operates at just above half its capacity due to neglect. The recent raid on the facility was sparked by outrage over a gang’s public concert in the town on May 11, which residents viewed as a blatant display of gang dominance and a sign of government ineffectiveness.
One local man expressed his frustration back in May, saying, “If the police were serious, that would never have happened. Now I’m just playing dominoes. I can’t even go to town anymore.”
Despite the blackout, many residents had already adapted by using portable generators. Supporters of the protest argued that their actions aimed to make the wealthier political class in the capital experience a fraction of the discomfort faced by those in rural areas.
Local police reported that they engaged in a confrontation when the gang entered the area, resulting in casualties on both sides—about 60 gang members and at least one officer from the anti-gang unit lost their lives. A group of local vigilantes managed to take down additional gang members.
Nevertheless, the Viv Ansanm Gang Coalition claimed control over the town, sharing images of hostages and damaged properties. This has fueled fear among residents, prompting many to flee, with other towns bracing for possible attacks.
The recent events at Perigre Dam underscored the ongoing instability. On Wednesday, following a clash with police, gang members reportedly retaliated by seizing a police vehicle and setting it ablaze. They later celebrated this act online, while residents of Milevalai shared their own footage of the raid on the power plant, showcasing their defiance by climbing onto one of the power towers.
