jean claude duvalier - Haiti Observer Blog

Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, who led his country with a strong hand, died on Saturday, October 3, 2014. He was 63 years old. According to source from the Martelly government the family of the former President contacted the government following a massive heart attach by Jean Claude to provide them with a helicopter ambulance to transport him to the nearest hospital. The Ambulance helicopter did not have the time to transport him.

Some emergency care was provided on site at his residence before Former Haitian President Jean Claude was pronounced dead

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It has just been reported that former Haitian President jean Claude Duvalier is dead. Known as "Baby Doc" or "Baby Doc", Jean claude Duvalier was born on July 3, 1951 in Port-au-Prince. He was a politician and President from 1971 to 1986 after the death of his father, François Duvalier.

According to sources close to the family, Jean Claude Duvalier died as a result of a heart attack.

Mezanmi gro nouvel. Yo jis reporte ke Jean Claude Duvalier mouri jodia, 3 Octob, 2014. Ke- li rete. Mwin ape cheche plis informasyon pou mwen pote ba nou.

Rete konekte ak HaitiObserver tande

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The National Union party, founded under the dictatorship of Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier, is set to potentially take part in the next elections in Haiti. Papa Doc presided over a tough regime that allegedly crushed political opposition and dissent through the private militia force - the Tonton Macoutes. He passed away in 1971 and was succeeded by his son Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier who, at 19, became the youngest leader in the world at the time.

Baby Doc proceeded to rule Haiti as 'president for life' until ousted by a political coup in 1986. His lawyers have continued to refute allegations of human rights abuses and embezzlement allegedly committed during his period of rule. Despite this dark cloud of allegations, and much to the dismay of human rights campaigners, Baby Doc is free to roam. Since his surprise return in 2011, he has been spotted in restaurants, socialising with associates and is even occasionally met by groups of applauding supporters waving the red and black flag of the National Union party.

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The short passage of Emmanuel Menard as head of the CEP will be marked by the person selected to replace him. Attorney Fritzto Canton, lawyer of former Dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier has the honor to assume this position. He was appointed by President Michel Martelly this week.

So what is going on?

Since the nomination of Attorney Fritzto Canton, the critic has not stopped. In fact, if you listen to some comments you would think we are already back into a Dictatorship in Haiti. Some had signaled that this change has strengthen the grip of the neo-Duvalier regime on the electoral machine.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as Baby Doc, was a brutal dictator of Haiti from the late 1950s up until 1986, when he was run out of office. He succeeded his father, Francois Duvalier, who was even more heinous than his son. Baby Doc fled Haiti in exile and resided in Paris for nearly three decades before returning in 2011. He is now facing the possibility of being brought up on charges regarding human rights violations.

An appellate court recently requested a more through investigation into the alleged violations be undertaken. It is a pivotal decision that sets the stage for state prosecutors to dig up more evidence, which could demand a trial be set to prosecute him.

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If Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier had somehow thought Haitians had forgotten, the recent court ruling that reinstated the criminal case against him taught him otherwise. The despotic ruler, who inherited the presidency from his father at the age of 19, spent his years in power from 1971 to 1986 building his repertoire of fear and tyranny. The era ended with his overthrow in '86 and a 25-year exile he broke with his return in 2011.

With his return came the memory of what he is accused of--not to the victims of those crimes, but to the forefront of the law and the news. Many in the nation became greatly incensed when, upon his return, the polarizing man was seemingly greeted with open arms by the current president, who even renewed Duvalier's diplomatic passport.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier returned to Haiti in 2011 hoping to accomplish re-assimilation into the country that still had yet to recover from his years as president decades ago. From the start of the 70's through to the mid 80's, 'Baby Doc' Duvalier forged his name as one of the worst violators of human rights to come out of the country's history.

While it remains to be seen just what he planned with his return to the country after his long exile, if shirking the consequences of his actions during rule was one item on his list, he can redact it.

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Haiti's Court of Appeal in February 2014 reversed a January 2012 ruling by an investigative judge ex-President Jean-Claude Duvalier could not stand trial for crimes against humanity. The judge based the ruling on an expired statue of limitations. But the Court of Appeal has ruled "substantial evidence" exists, indicating Duvalier's culpability in human rights violations during his 15-year rule.

Amnesty International (AI) counted the ruling as a significant step forward for victims, attempting to get justice 28 years after Duvalier was exiled from office. He fled to Paris and returned to Haiti in January 2011. Upon his return, Haitian officials resurrected the criminal case against him, including charges of torture and murder, and corruption charges.

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An appellate court in Haiti comprised of three-judge panel said on Thursday, February 20, 2014 that former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier should face trial on human rights abuse. This decision by the appellate court in Haiti eliminated a ruling by an investigative judge in 2012 that threw out the human rights charges against Duvalier on the grounds that the statute of limitations to bring such charges had expired.

It seems more certain than ever before that Jean-Claude Duvalier will be facing in the near future many of the victims of his private militia known as the Tonton Macoutes.

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The stage has been set for the return of the polemic Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier, and at center stage is his hard to figure out viceroy, Véronique Roy. Roy appeared on the scene in early 2011, often on the arm, or not far from the shadow of the former dictator, Duvalier, who, now in his early 60's, returned to the country after spending 25 years as an exile in France.

Roy's persona as something of a femme fatale, considered by some to be the mistress of Duvalier, is aggravated by the air of mystery which surrounds her. What exactly is her label? That's the question most persons would like answered. But the lack of dialogue as to the true role she plays in his life leaves the matter up for speculation, with some labeling her as companion, mistress and, overall political upstart.

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