Police fired tear gas at crowds who burned tires and blocked streets on Tuesday to protest the killing of Amiot Metayer, a prison escapee whose bullet-riddled body was found on a sidestreet. Metayer, 39, a longtime supporter of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and leader of the so-called "Cannibal Army," was found Monday night. He was shot once in each eye and once through the heart, said Daniel Jean-Charles, the central government’s representative.
Making sure he won’t get better, it is Haiti, after all. Coming back from the dead is a local tradition.
Some viewed Metayer as a hoodlum, whose gang allegedly terrorized government opponents and rivals. But others viewed him as a Robin Hood of sorts, who lavished slumdwellers with gifts.
He’d have fit right in with Bob, Chuck, Hugo, etc...
Metayer was arrested on arson charges on May 21, 2002, in connection with an alleged attack on a rival gang in Gonaives. He broke out of prison in August 2002 with help from supporters. Within days, he was allegedly back in Gonaives terrorizing Aristide opponents and others. "He is better off dead," said opposition leader and former Sen. Paul Denis. "The government he worked for had no interest in having him appear before a court of justice to answer for his crimes."
Too many questions that he might have answered. |