Jean-Claude Duvalier died from a heart attack

Jean-Claude Duvalier, the self proclaimed Haitian "President for Life" died from a heart attack on October 4th, 2014 at the age of 63. Duvalier, at the age of 19, inherited power from his father Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and became the President of Haiti from 1971 to 1986. His regime is considered as one of the darkest, brutal and corrupt regime in Haiti. His father was a doctor (that is why his son was as known as 'Baby Doc') who was more ruthless and corrupt than his son. He established 'Noirisme' i.e., uniting the Haitian black majority with African roots against the mulatto elite in the country. Both father and son ruled the country with iron fists, clamping down on dissidents, crushing opposition, making own tyrannical rules and pocketing public money. His son Duvalier had extensively used a secret police force named 'Tonton Macoutes' which was heavily accused of torturing, kidnapping, and killing up to 30,000 political opponents during the 1960s and 1970s.

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In 1986, a huge uprising in the country was sparked against the tyrannical rule and lavish lifestyle of the "president for life".Consequently, his cadres and backers in Washington suddenly withdrew their support for him. Duvalier quickly whisked from Haiti aboard a U.S. Air Force cargo plane accompanying his wife, son and daughter and hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen money for a 25-year exile in France. During his exile, he used to make occasional public statements and eagerness to return Haiti. In 2007, Duvalier called on Haitians from his exile to forgive him for "mistakes" and on October 16, 2011, he made a surprise return to Haiti allowing his opponents and victims to pursue legal claims against him in Haitian courts.

The Haitian President Michel Martelly expressed his condolences and sincere sympathies on behalf of the entire government and people of Haiti to the former deceased dictator's family, his relatives and his supporters across the country without mentioning any of his misconducts.

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