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Extravagant: Baby Doc and Michele's wedding in 1980. The couple used the funds of every government department for their own pleasure |
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| Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier arrives at the prosecutors office in Port-au-Prince. Photograph: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images |
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| The Milice Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale (MVSN), or the (Militia of) National Security Volunteers was a Haitian paramilitary force founded in 1958 to defend the autocratic and corrupt regime of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier. The MVSN, commonly known as the Tonton Macoutes, was notorious for corruption and brutality. |
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| Cambodia's version of Tonton Macoutes used by the Hun Xen regime to evict poor people from their houses in Dey Krahorm (Photo: John Vink/Magnum) |
Former dictator faces charges relating to his 15-year rule after being hauled before a judge in Port-au Prince
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
guardian.co.uk
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier was charged with corruption, theft, misappropriation of funds and other alleged crimes committed during his 1971-1986 rule after the former Haitian dictator was hauled before a judge in Port-au Prince tonight.
"His fate is now in the hands of the investigating judge. We have brought charges against him," Port-au-Prince chief prosecutor, Aristidas Auguste, told Reuters.
The charges must now be investigated by the judge who will decide whether a judicial case should go ahead.
Dozens of officers, including some in riot gear, had whisked him earlier from his hotel past a jeering and cheering crowd and into a 4X4 with tinted windows – a scene which his regime's victims had long dreamed of. The 59-year-old, who was not handcuffed, appeared calm and did not say anything. He had been due to give a press conference to explain his return from 25 years in exile.
"Mr Duvalier is under the control of the judicial system. He's not free, he's going to my office," Auguste said. Crowds immediately thronged the courthouse in expectation of a historic hearing.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among others, have urged the authorities to prosecute the former dictator for jailing, torturing and murdering thousands of people during his 15-year rule.
His longtime companion, Veronique Roy, when asked whether Duvalier was being arrested, laughed and said nothing.
The scene evoked memories of 7 February 1986 when crowds danced in the streets after widespread revolts and international pressure led to his departure.
His Swiss banked fortune long used up in divorce and tax disputes, Duvalier returned to Haiti without warning on Sunday on a flight from Paris, saying he wanted to help. "I'm not here for politics. I'm here for the reconstruction of Haiti."
By mid-morning today it became clear he would need help himself. Police staked out the Karibe hotel, which he had used as a base to meet supporters, while Auguste and a judge, Gabriel Amboisse, questioned him in private.
By the time he emerged there was a crowd, split, like much of Haiti, over a man who terrorised with the Tonton Macoute militia but also symbolised a time when the economy at least partly functioned. Some jeered, others shouted "Free Duvalier! Free Duvalier!" and chased the 4X4.
A spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights said it should be easier to prosecute Duvalier in Haiti because it was where atrocities took place but that the judicial system was fragile.
It remained unclear why he returned and what impact it would have on the year-long post-quake crisis which has left a leadership vacuum and a country in ferment, with near daily street demonstrations by rival factions.
10 comments:
ANYTHING COME AROUND AND NEVER WALK AWAY IN THIS WORLD.ONLY GREEN GRASS AND BARE THEIR OWN FOOT CAN BE WIN IN ONE DAY .HUN SEN MUST KNOW WHEN HE GONE .
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I might sound racist, but per my observation. The type of leaders that turn bad quickly are:
(Worst-to-Best Ranking)
1) The majority of Black leaders.
2) The majority of Muslim leaders.
3) The majority of Asian leaders.
4) The majority of Latin Leaders.
5) The majority of White leaders.
Hence White leaders are least corrupt and they are in politics to serve their nation.
មិនដឹងវាយកខួរក្បាលត្រង់ចំណិតណាមកគិតថារដ្ឋាភិបាលកំពុងតែ អភិវឌ្ឍន៍ប្រទេសជាតិ ដេញម៉ែឪអាឯងអោយចុះចេញពីផ្ទះយកគេអ្នកផ្សេងមកនៅទើបត្រឹម ត្រូវម៉ែនទេ? អាឆ្កួត
Hun Sen and his guards will face the same fate when time comes.
Also ah Dara Doung, CPP representative in US and his associate Daren Pen, President of Khmer Community in Tacoma will be deported back to vietname.
There is no way that Hoon have the same fate as this guy. But maybe worse.
Any country that associates with the French past or present is like that - corrupt to the bone.
countries with dictators are not very prosperous. all dictators should face court of law, and they are a dying breed sooner or later, as more and more people are better educated and can really think for themselves; they start to question the dictators! and no country in the world should give any dictator from any country an asylum; this way they can't run and hide when their time has arrived to judge them in the name of peace, equality and justice for all citizens, etc. may god help cambodia to rid itself of evil and dictator or one-man rule and so forth. they have no place in cambodia anymore as our country moves into the better, brighter future and so forth.
I hope dictator in Cambodia will be on his turn also in the near future.
dictators suck! i hate all dictators in the world!
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