Add Your Photos and Video to This Story

Haiti: Duvalier could face justice

by urbano411 | September 29, 2007 at 01:06 pm | 396 views | add comment

Since the death last year of Ton Ton Macoute leader and his right hand man, Luckner Cambronne, Duvalier has quietly encouraged his former supporters to start a grassroots movement in Haiti for the support of his return. Those who lived well as allies to Baby Doc long for the days of Haiti under control. Those who remember the death squads are not so anxious to return to those days. Haiti meanwhile struggles to come into the 21st century with few real solutions in sight.

Haiti's president said Friday that former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier would have to face justice for his regime's corruption and abuses if he returns to the Caribbean country from exile.

Duvalier, whose rule came to an abrupt end in February 1986 when he fled during a popular uprising, ended years of silence over the weekend with a Haitian radio address in which he apologized for "wrongs" committed under his rule. He did not say whether he would return to Haiti, but his unexpected address came amid a quiet campaign by some of his hardcore supporters to bring him back from in France.

President Rene Preval, who earlier this week rejected Duvalier's apology, said he could not prevent the former dictator from returning because Haiti's constitution prohibits the forced exile of any citizen.

Asked if Duvalier would be brought to trial, Preval said his "dictatorship killed thousands of people" and stole millions of dollars.