The World - News from July 27, 1987

A Haitian government official visited the remote village of Jean Rabel where a pitched battle last week between two peasant groups left at least 50 dead. Anaise Chavenet, director of the Information Ministry, said she had a list of names of 10 people killed in the fighting and 54 wounded, but she indicated that the final toll is likely to be much higher. She said witnesses told her the fighting started when a group of peasants attacked other peasants who refused to join their land-reform organization. Initial reports said the battle was between peasants and mobs backed by landowners.