President Jean-Claude Duvalier in Port-au-Prince.
Photo: The Canadian Press, January 18, 2011
President Jean-Claude Duvalier in Port-au-Prince.
Photo: Ramon Espinosa / AP, January 18, 2011
Source: yahoo.com
By Jonathan M. Katz, The Associated Press The Canadian Press, January 18, 2011
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A judge has opened on Tuesday, an official inquiry into John Claude Duvalier, two days after the surprise return of the former dictator of Haiti in the country, which he was ousted by a popular uprising there nearly 25 years.
The defense lawyer Charles Gervais said that Mr. Duvalier, better known as "Baby Doc", was facing charges of corruption and embezzlement for allegedly stealing the treasury before his ouster , in 1986.
Mr. Charles said that the case was now in the hands of a judge who will decide whether there is enough evidence to hold a trial. This procedure could take up to three months.
Mr. Duvalier has spent much of the day in court behind closed doors, where he was interrogated.
The Haitian judicial system allows for detention before trial. But Mona Bernadeau, Senate candidate for the party of Mr. Duvalier, said the former dictator was returning to the hotel after his meeting with the court.
Earlier Tuesday, a contingent Police went looking for "Baby Doc" to his hotel and was escorted to a sport utility vehicle that was waiting outside. The former dictator was not handcuffed.
Mr. Duvalier, aged 59, was calm and said nothing, ignoring reporters' questions.
The vehicle, escorted by a convoy of police, visited the courthouse, while dozens of supporters of Mr. Duvalier had tried to block the streets with garbage containers and stones to prevent the former dictator was taken to prison.
The courthouse was packed with spectators and journalists, who were not allowed into the room to attend the proceedings.
Mr. Duvalier's companion, Veronica King, interviewed by telephone by The Associated Press as she stood in the hall, said the former dictator had "absolutely not" been arrested.
Hundreds of supporters of Jean-Claude Duvalier had gathered outside the courthouse, burning tires and chanting slogans calling for the arrest of President René Préval.
Chal Christen, aged 56, was waving a flag of Mr. Duvalier's political party, he was stored since the overthrow of "president for life" by a popular uprising, there are nearly 25 years.
"We have no food, our houses have collapsed, our children can not go to school. It Preval is the dictator, "said Christen. "We want Duvalier as president. Under his plan, we ate well and we were safe. "
Fenell Alexi, a mechanic aged 31, attended the scene by denouncing both Mr. Duvalier that Mr. Preval.
"The citizens of this country have endured so many crimes," said Alexi. "We have never had a president who has committed no crimes."
Jean-Claude Duvalier took power in 1971 after the death of his father, Francois Duvalier, known as "Papa Doc". He was then aged 19. The father and son have chaired one of the darkest chapters in Haitian history, during which the regime's secret police, the Tonton Macoutes, tortured and killed many opponents.
Several groups of human rights, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urged the Haitian government to arrest Mr. Duvalier to the many abuses committed under his regime.
Amnesty International issued a statement to acknowledge the "arrest" of Mr. Duvalier, while asserting that it was only a beginning.
"If true justice will be rendered in Haiti, Haitian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the responsibility of Duvalier to the multitude of abuses against human rights committed under his rule, including torture, arbitrary detention , rape, forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, "says the organization.
Jean-Claude Duvalier still enjoys some support in Haiti, where millions of citizens are too young to remember life under his rule. His surprise return has created a shock wave in the country, where some fear that his presence brings the extreme polarization and political violence of the past.
He did not explain publicly the reasons for his return to Haiti. When he arrived Sunday in Port-au-Prince, his wife said he would be only three days in the country.
0 comments:
Post a Comment