Haiti Mobs Attack Homes of Secret Police Officials

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Mobs attacked luxurious homes belonging to former leaders of the Tontons Macoutes secret police today amid radio reports that 20 people had been poisoned by members of ousted President Jean-Claude Duvalier’s private army.

Two U.S. airlines, American and Eastern, canceled flights to the Caribbean nation today after thousands of protesters blocked off the Port-au-Prince airport Tuesday to prevent Duvalier supporters from fleeing the country.

Baptist-run Radio Lumiere reported that members of the disbanded Volunteers for National Security had poisoned the water supply in the northern coastal town of Port-de-Paix and 20 people had died.

The report could not be confirmed and came amid widespread fears that former members of the VSN, known as the Tontons Macoutes--Creole for bogymen--are seeking revenge against civilians whose mass protests forced Duvalier to flee Feb. 7.

Crowds attacked a house belonging to former secret police chief Luc Desir, whose attempt to flee the country sparked the confrontation at the airport Tuesday. (Story on Page 12.) They also attacked the home of the head of the Tontons Macoutes--known as “Madame Max.”

Officials said Desir has been arrested but Madame Max is believed to have fled the country Sunday.

In another development, workers at two state institutions, the National Bank of Haiti and the Electric Co. of Haiti, staged sit-down strikes, refusing to work until the heads of the companies were changed.

Electricity chief Alix Cameau, who headed the company for more than a decade, was replaced today but the name of his successor was not immediately known.

Haitians have been demonstrating and circulating petitions against ties between Duvalier and the new government since its installation Feb. 7.