Francois Duvalier Reign in Haiti
ADVERTISEMENT
Francois Duvalier tolerated no opposition to his repressive policies. He intimidated his enemies, routinely ordering assassinations, an estimated 30,000 of them. Many educated Haitians fled Haiti, and the island has never recovered its intelligentsia.
While in office Duvalier created the Para-military group, Tonton Macoutes, to strengthen his hold on power. He was cruel and relishing, first-hand, the heinous torture of political prisoners.
Francois Duvalier cunningly manipulated the U.S. government, voicing his anti-Communist sentiments, especially against Cuba, a major U.S. enemy. He mis-used U.S. aid in the millions, putting the money into his own accounts. His hostile foreign-policy agenda nearly caused the Dominican Republic to invade Haiti.
Despite seizing land from farming communities, leading to starvation and deteriorating health, he retained his power over the dominant black-peasant class. They viewed Duvalier as a defender of their oppression under the ruling mulatto élite.
To the end, Francois Duvalier held sway over the country through manipulation of Voodoo iconography, insisting he was the Loa, a major Voodoo god. He ensured through a constitutional referendum that his son, Jean-Claude would succeed him.
Read more: doctors, assassination, Black Vs Mulato, Mulato, Tonton Macoute, Francois Duvalier, Repression, Dictator, Dumarsais Estime, State University of Haiti, Dictatorship, Duvalier Facts, duvalier
« Jean-Claude Duvalier defied judge order in return was summoned to appear in Court | Main | Francois Duvalier, Minister of Public Health under Dumarsais Estime »
Leave a Reply
Name (required) E-mail (required, will not be published)» »
Our objective is to share with you news and information about Haiti and the people of Haiti. Traditions, habits and the way we were or grew are alive in this site. We highly recommend that you Subscribe to our Newsletter and also share with us some of the things that are memorable and made us unique people.