AFTER EARTHQUAKE AND ANGER ...
DUVALIER
- The former dictator is accused of genocide and theft between 300 and 1,000 million dollars of state funds
On correspondents (IPS ) (*)
Groups
human rights advocates urged the Haitian authorities to take advantage of the surprising return of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971 - 1986) to try him for crimes committed during his rule.
Duvalier, known by the nickname "Baby Doc " who lived in exile in France was taken Tuesday to the attorney general's office to answer allegations of corruption, but regained his freedom.
"His fate is now in the hands of an investigating judge. We have filed charges against him " , said the chief prosecutor in Port-au , Auguste Aristida .
According to the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux , extensive research conducted by an auditing firm of United States between 1986 and 1990 found stealing more than $ 300 million of public funds during his regime.
Duvalier, known by the nickname "Baby Doc " who lived in exile in France was taken Tuesday to the attorney general's office to answer allegations of corruption, but regained his freedom.
"His fate is now in the hands of an investigating judge. We have filed charges against him " , said the chief prosecutor in Port-au , Auguste Aristida .
According to the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux , extensive research conducted by an auditing firm of United States between 1986 and 1990 found stealing more than $ 300 million of public funds during his regime.
Other lawsuits put the figure at about 1,000 billion.
The groups also stressed that repression policy during his dictatorship, murder and torture, constitute " crimes against humanity " that do not prescribe, a position shared by international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
" The arrest of Jean-Claude Duvalier is a positive step but not enough to simply accuse him of corruption " he said in a statement Tuesday the director of Amnesty Haiti, Javier Zuniga.
"If you want to do real justice in Haiti, the authorities should initiate an investigation criminal liability against Duvalier in the multitude of human rights violations committed during his government, including torture, arbitrary detentions, rapes, forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, "said .
Duvalier's return to Haiti last Sunday, almost exactly 25 years after his departure for France on February 7, 1986, startled more than one.
In a radio interview, Baby Doc said he only wanted to help rebuild their country after the devastating earthquake and before the cholera epidemic, but said he had no political agenda.
Although an enthusiastic crowd gathered around the hotel which housed many Haitians were dismayed by his reappearance.
" " Jean-Claude Duvalier, the country should have returned long ago, but was extradited from France at the request of the Haitian authorities and imprisoned for his many crimes and stealing everything , said the award-winning Haitian filmmaker Arnold Antonin .
The artist expressed his "indignation " by the reception he was offered Duvalier the Toussaint Louverture Airport .
The groups also stressed that repression policy during his dictatorship, murder and torture, constitute " crimes against humanity " that do not prescribe, a position shared by international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
" The arrest of Jean-Claude Duvalier is a positive step but not enough to simply accuse him of corruption " he said in a statement Tuesday the director of Amnesty Haiti, Javier Zuniga.
"If you want to do real justice in Haiti, the authorities should initiate an investigation criminal liability against Duvalier in the multitude of human rights violations committed during his government, including torture, arbitrary detentions, rapes, forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, "said .
Duvalier's return to Haiti last Sunday, almost exactly 25 years after his departure for France on February 7, 1986, startled more than one.
In a radio interview, Baby Doc said he only wanted to help rebuild their country after the devastating earthquake and before the cholera epidemic, but said he had no political agenda.
Although an enthusiastic crowd gathered around the hotel which housed many Haitians were dismayed by his reappearance.
" " Jean-Claude Duvalier, the country should have returned long ago, but was extradited from France at the request of the Haitian authorities and imprisoned for his many crimes and stealing everything , said the award-winning Haitian filmmaker Arnold Antonin .
The artist expressed his "indignation " by the reception he was offered Duvalier the Toussaint Louverture Airport .
Baby Doc, who was succeeded by his father, the late dictator Francois Duvalier , nicknamed "Papa Doc " received a police escort and would have been greeted with cheers some supporters. " is an insult" to all victims of the regime, Antonin said, recalling inter novelist Jacques Stephen Alexis , assassinated in 1961, and activist Alix Lamothe, executed in 1986.
footballer Robert Duval was also persecuted by the regime of Duvalier, but managed to survive his many months of confinement at the Fort Dimanche prison . The athlete, the founder of L' Athlétique d'Haiti, which helps children in the slums of the Haitian capital, said he still did not understand the return of former dictator.
"I was in prison during the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier ... In 1976, came, came into my office and took me to (military barracks) Dessalines barracks, where I was 17 months. Then false charges, convicted and sent me to Fort Dimanche he said. Duval
spent 18 months as prisoners there called "human hell" by continuous torture. Formal charges were ever filed against him.
"I sent to Fort Dimanche to disappear, because if you send (...) were sentenced to death. Every day or two people died there," he said.
Some 50,000 people were killed, thousands of them in Fort Dimanche , during the dictatorships of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier said Duval .
"It was he who signed agreements with institutions international opened the country to economic destruction, " said." When he left in 1986, was a relief for everyone because we could not take it anymore, or from politically and economically ".
The return of Jean-Claude Duvalier has raised many doubts, suspicions of complicity with French and even Haiti.
"We were in a very chaotic and this added fuel to the fire. One hand manipulates it all. It did not happen by chance, "said Gerald Mathurin, minister of agriculture during the first administration René Préval , between 1996 and 2001. According
Mathurin, who now leads a coalition of rural organizations known by its acronym CROSE , Préval government and the international community "are partners" in this situation, and suggested the existence of "plan to freeze even the subject of (disputed) election results" 28 November.
agreed with him Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, leader of the Peasant Movement Papay. "It's a way of diverting public attention from Préval and his government, its Board of Elections and the election, "said .
" For us, the priority is the return of Jean-Claude Duvalier, but the resolution of the country's political problems, "said .
Arnold Antonin also said he believed that the return of Baby Doc was simply a" distraction .
"It shows that Haiti is going to ago. There has been a democratic transition, but a continuation of the Duvalier in other ways, "said .
"When he left in 1986, we believe that the country would advance, but we are entering a crisis without end. For this reason, historically we have gone backwards," said.
His return means, " symbolically, we are a nation that can not find their way. The social contradictions are so great ... is the weakness of the progressive organizations that has allowed such a serious return" , said Duval.
(*) Based in part on an article AlterPresse , with additional coverage of IP correspondent in S New York Fatoorechi Cleo.
footballer Robert Duval was also persecuted by the regime of Duvalier, but managed to survive his many months of confinement at the Fort Dimanche prison . The athlete, the founder of L' Athlétique d'Haiti, which helps children in the slums of the Haitian capital, said he still did not understand the return of former dictator.
"I was in prison during the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier ... In 1976, came, came into my office and took me to (military barracks) Dessalines barracks, where I was 17 months. Then false charges, convicted and sent me to Fort Dimanche he said. Duval
spent 18 months as prisoners there called "human hell" by continuous torture. Formal charges were ever filed against him.
"I sent to Fort Dimanche to disappear, because if you send (...) were sentenced to death. Every day or two people died there," he said.
Some 50,000 people were killed, thousands of them in Fort Dimanche , during the dictatorships of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier said Duval .
"It was he who signed agreements with institutions international opened the country to economic destruction, " said." When he left in 1986, was a relief for everyone because we could not take it anymore, or from politically and economically ".
The return of Jean-Claude Duvalier has raised many doubts, suspicions of complicity with French and even Haiti.
"We were in a very chaotic and this added fuel to the fire. One hand manipulates it all. It did not happen by chance, "said Gerald Mathurin, minister of agriculture during the first administration René Préval , between 1996 and 2001. According
Mathurin, who now leads a coalition of rural organizations known by its acronym CROSE , Préval government and the international community "are partners" in this situation, and suggested the existence of "plan to freeze even the subject of (disputed) election results" 28 November.
agreed with him Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, leader of the Peasant Movement Papay. "It's a way of diverting public attention from Préval and his government, its Board of Elections and the election, "said .
" For us, the priority is the return of Jean-Claude Duvalier, but the resolution of the country's political problems, "said .
Arnold Antonin also said he believed that the return of Baby Doc was simply a" distraction .
"It shows that Haiti is going to ago. There has been a democratic transition, but a continuation of the Duvalier in other ways, "said .
"When he left in 1986, we believe that the country would advance, but we are entering a crisis without end. For this reason, historically we have gone backwards," said.
His return means, " symbolically, we are a nation that can not find their way. The social contradictions are so great ... is the weakness of the progressive organizations that has allowed such a serious return" , said Duval.
(*) Based in part on an article AlterPresse , with additional coverage of IP correspondent in S New York Fatoorechi Cleo.
Duvalier meets with some of his paramilitary
Former Haitian dictator Jean -Claude Duvalier, has received a number of his supporters and former members of paramilitary militia, the "Tontons Macoutes .
A group of former regime loyalists in the
Duvalier (1971-1986) was made in his hotel in Juvenat , on the outskirts east of Port-au , and waited to be received. Members have also attended his militia, the Tontons Macoutes , a guard who was held responsible, with the Army, at the time of terror who starred in the scheme. Gathered at the entrance of the hotel, were selected one by one to climb the Duvalier room depending on the orders of the president, have been reported sources of their environment.
Tens of thousands of crimes
Jean Claude Baby Doc Duvalier Haiti ruled from 1971 to 1986 as the successor of father Francois Papa Doc Duvalier, who had done since 1957. The Duvalier led a regime that is considered responsible for tens of thousands of crimes and the diversion of millions sums belonging to the funds.
During the visits, Duvalier has remained in his room, while outside near the hotel, stood a small team of police and agents United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
His wife, Veronique Roy , has come to greet supporters of the regime and embraced one of them without comment to the media.
After the meetings, the dictator has left the hotel to go to a private residence, as reported by the digital Haiti Press Network.
Crimes against humanity
has also gone through the hotel Reynold Georges one of the lawyers Duvalier, who met with the dictator before heading to the prosecution to collect, said information on the claims were registered yesterday against Duvalier , which is referred to as
"alleged complaints." On Tuesday, the dictator was released after giving evidence in the prosecution of Puerto Principe, but accused of diverting funds during his tenure (1971-1986).
A day later, four Haitians, including a exportavoz the United Nations Organization (UNO) , filed complaints of crimes against humanity against Duvalier . Georges would not comment on a statement quoted by local media in which Duvalier denied it intends to participate in the electoral process in Haiti. "If the president says, I have no comment" , he said.
Court order forbidding leave Haiti Duvalier
A prohibition order was issued departure of former Haitian dictator Jean Claude Duvalier , charged with various crimes after his return to Haiti. As indicated
media Duvalier will not leave this Caribbean territory because there is an ongoing legal action.
Since his return to Port au Prince , last Sunday, Baby Doc, as he is known, has been the target of several complaints of corruption, embezzlement and crimes against humanity.
On Tuesday, members of Support Group for Refugees and Returnees in Haiti further proceedings against him for slave labor to sell to Dominican Republic.
But his lawyer, Reynold Georges said any charges are effective as already spent more than 10 years without making the process and cautioned about the possible return of Duvalier politics.
The former dictator left the hotel yesterday where he was staying and as some media match, moved to a private residence on the outskirts of the capital.
Since his arrival is pending a press conference to inform the public the true reasons for the return.
His return, after 25 years of exile in France has been widely criticized by domestic and foreign entities that hold it responsible for the deaths of thousands of people during his tenure between 1971 and 1986.
During his tenure the country shrank by more than 40 percent of external debt still dragging. The presence of
Baby Doc in Haitian territory increased political tension heightened in the wake of disputed presidential election, with results to be announced and a second round of elections undetermined date.
January 12, 2011:
An anniversary in pain
For Wooldy Louidor Edson (*)
January 12, 2010 - January 12, 2011, exactly one year since an earthquake of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti, claiming the lives of more than 300,000 people, according to official figures. Today, the Haitian people live on the first anniversary of the tragedy in pain, caused not only by the sad memory of the victims of the tragedy, but also by current conditions deplorable living and acute political crisis facing the country.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the earthquake, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) held in prayer and meditation in memory of our sisters and brothers who died as a result of the tragedy, while calls to all national and international actors involved to do together, a year later, the results of our actions to get insights and lessons to build a better future for Haiti.
9 to January 12, 2010, along with other works of the Society of Jesus, JRS has conducted a series of activities such as Masses, conferences, cultural and religious events to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake under the slogan: "Haiti: between grief and hope."
Threats of expulsion of displaced
Today January 12, 2011, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are forced by the owners of the land where they built their tents outside the camps.
"Where do we go? What do we do?" Asks Automeca a displaced camp located near the airport of Port-au-Prince.
"We have met with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and delegates from more than 20 NGOs on 7 January, but was not anything concrete," laments, desperate, a field representative Henfrasa, located at Delmas 33, Port au Prince.
The displaced are increasing threats of expulsion by the owners, as we approach the 12 January. The Haitian authorities are indifferent to their cries, despite the recommendation made last November 18, 2010 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to the Haitian government to "adopt a moratorium on expulsions from camps of internally displaced to assume the new government. "
A political crisis that threatens to escalate
On the other hand, Haiti has plunged into political crisis acute, since the controversial presidential and legislative elections of 28 November 2010.
12 of the 19 presidential candidates called on 28th November, the annulment of the elections as a result of fraud and irregularities allegedly committed pro-government candidate Jude Celestin.
then, supporters of presidential candidate Joseph Michel Martelly protested against the preliminary results of the first round of elections proclaimed by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), which they accuse of complicity with the ruling party. These results placed in third position Martelly, which would mean their immediate elimination of the second round election races.
Given the political crisis that resulted from the protests against the results of the elections, Haitian President René Garcia Préval requested by the Organization of American States (OAS) a technical assessment of the electoral process.
expected these days the official publication of the findings of the evaluation report, conducted by the expert mission of the OAS based on the vote recount and analysis of the findings made during previous election tabulation centers. Nothing says
Haitian political actors, especially the candidates and the same head of state, will accept such findings of the mission of the OAS.
How long will the post-electoral crisis?
For Wooldy Louidor Edson (*)
January 12, 2010 - January 12, 2011, exactly one year since an earthquake of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti, claiming the lives of more than 300,000 people, according to official figures. Today, the Haitian people live on the first anniversary of the tragedy in pain, caused not only by the sad memory of the victims of the tragedy, but also by current conditions deplorable living and acute political crisis facing the country.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the earthquake, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) held in prayer and meditation in memory of our sisters and brothers who died as a result of the tragedy, while calls to all national and international actors involved to do together, a year later, the results of our actions to get insights and lessons to build a better future for Haiti.
9 to January 12, 2010, along with other works of the Society of Jesus, JRS has conducted a series of activities such as Masses, conferences, cultural and religious events to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake under the slogan: "Haiti: between grief and hope."
Threats of expulsion of displaced
Today January 12, 2011, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are forced by the owners of the land where they built their tents outside the camps.
"Where do we go? What do we do?" Asks Automeca a displaced camp located near the airport of Port-au-Prince.
"We have met with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and delegates from more than 20 NGOs on 7 January, but was not anything concrete," laments, desperate, a field representative Henfrasa, located at Delmas 33, Port au Prince.
The displaced are increasing threats of expulsion by the owners, as we approach the 12 January. The Haitian authorities are indifferent to their cries, despite the recommendation made last November 18, 2010 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to the Haitian government to "adopt a moratorium on expulsions from camps of internally displaced to assume the new government. "
A political crisis that threatens to escalate
On the other hand, Haiti has plunged into political crisis acute, since the controversial presidential and legislative elections of 28 November 2010.
12 of the 19 presidential candidates called on 28th November, the annulment of the elections as a result of fraud and irregularities allegedly committed pro-government candidate Jude Celestin.
then, supporters of presidential candidate Joseph Michel Martelly protested against the preliminary results of the first round of elections proclaimed by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), which they accuse of complicity with the ruling party. These results placed in third position Martelly, which would mean their immediate elimination of the second round election races.
Given the political crisis that resulted from the protests against the results of the elections, Haitian President René Garcia Préval requested by the Organization of American States (OAS) a technical assessment of the electoral process.
expected these days the official publication of the findings of the evaluation report, conducted by the expert mission of the OAS based on the vote recount and analysis of the findings made during previous election tabulation centers. Nothing says
Haitian political actors, especially the candidates and the same head of state, will accept such findings of the mission of the OAS.
How long will the post-electoral crisis?
It seems that you can not respect the electoral calendar providing for the completion of the second round of elections on 16 January 2011 which, based on the current Haitian Constitution, should culminate in the possession of the newly elected president on 7 February.
This situation may further complicate the political crisis, as opposition parties and various sectors of Haitian society demand, unconditionally, the output of the current president René Garcia Préval of power on February 7.
For its part, the head of state has repeatedly expressed its willingness to hand over power to a / a president who emerges from the elections and not a provisional government.
A social landscape increasingly bleak
Political crisis overshadows turn the social landscape in Haiti, since it weakens the Haitian state becomes increasingly unable to give concrete answers to the most pressing social problems such as the relocation of about one million people displaced, the satisfaction of basic needs, removal of debris and the fight against cholera outbreak already killed 3,400 people and infected other 157,000.
insecurity and violence caused by the political crisis also hinder the efforts of humanitarian organizations to provide better care for the affected population lacks basic social services such as health, education, drinking water, electricity, sanitation ...
A year after the earthquake, the reconstruction of Haiti has not started for lack of funds and because the Haitian people have been excluded from the process. The Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH), chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, is far from giving the results expected of it
(*) Collaborating AlterPresse
(Sources: IPS, bookseller , Prensa Latina and Adital)
This situation may further complicate the political crisis, as opposition parties and various sectors of Haitian society demand, unconditionally, the output of the current president René Garcia Préval of power on February 7.
For its part, the head of state has repeatedly expressed its willingness to hand over power to a / a president who emerges from the elections and not a provisional government.
A social landscape increasingly bleak
Political crisis overshadows turn the social landscape in Haiti, since it weakens the Haitian state becomes increasingly unable to give concrete answers to the most pressing social problems such as the relocation of about one million people displaced, the satisfaction of basic needs, removal of debris and the fight against cholera outbreak already killed 3,400 people and infected other 157,000.
insecurity and violence caused by the political crisis also hinder the efforts of humanitarian organizations to provide better care for the affected population lacks basic social services such as health, education, drinking water, electricity, sanitation ...
A year after the earthquake, the reconstruction of Haiti has not started for lack of funds and because the Haitian people have been excluded from the process. The Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH), chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, is far from giving the results expected of it
(*) Collaborating AlterPresse
(Sources: IPS, bookseller , Prensa Latina and Adital)
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