The ex-Haitian president Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as "Baby Doc", surprised everyone last Sunday when he came back to Haiti after 25 years in exile.
However, the future he is facing is not very encouraging. It is said that the past always comes back to haunt you and, in his case, that is what is happening.
State prosecutors charged him with corruption, theft and embezzlement during his time as president. Mr Duvalier was freed after questioning on Tuesday. Now, the judge has three months to decide whether the case goes to trial.
But this is not the only problem that Baby Doc is facing now he is back “home”. Human rights groups called for his immediate arrest after four individual victims sued him for crimes against humanity.
Those organisations blame Mr Duvalier for the disappearance and death of thousands of people. Most of those, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais, were performed by the pro-government organisation “tonton macoutes”.
According to Human Rights Watch: “The Duvaliers are estimated to have ordered the deaths of between 20 and 30,000 Haitian civilians. The brutality of their government created the modern Haitian diaspora, driving hundreds of thousands of Haitians into exile in Canada, France, the United States, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere.”
Brian Concannon Jr, Director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) told The Fresh Outlook: “Although the crimes against humanity have only consisted of individual reports, he is likely to be charged for that because there is a lot of evidence of what he did." Harriet Garland, spokesperson for Amnesty International in the UK, warns that there might be some difficulties as many files proving those crimes where destroyed in the earthquake, but adds: “There are still people prepared to give evidence.
The international community will play an important role as human rights groups and organisations from other countries might help to call for justice. “Of course, Haiti has the prime responsibility on this case, but organisations such as the United Nations can provide legal help, advice and security to make his condemn happen easier,” states Mr Concannon.
Ms Garland says that the their role as an international NGO is to observe, listen and support the victims, as well as to develop local campaigns on the ground.
Although Mr Duvalier's lawyer said Baby Doc won't be condemned for the economical crimes in accordance with Haitian laws, this is might not be the case for the alledged crimes against humanity.
Mr Concannon claims that the fact the former president has been out of the country for 25 should not matter: “Legally he should go to prison,” he said.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said that Mr Duvalier’s return increases his chances of be charged with atrocities committed during his 15-year rule because it will be easier to bring charges in the country where the crimes occurred.
Jean-Claude Duvalier was just 19 when, in 1971, he inherited the title of president-for-life from his father, Francois "Papa Doc". That made him the youngest dictator in history, ruling in Haiti until 1986, when he exiled to Paris.
Now it seems that he's back for good.
By Eva Fernandez
However, the future he is facing is not very encouraging. It is said that the past always comes back to haunt you and, in his case, that is what is happening.
State prosecutors charged him with corruption, theft and embezzlement during his time as president. Mr Duvalier was freed after questioning on Tuesday. Now, the judge has three months to decide whether the case goes to trial.
But this is not the only problem that Baby Doc is facing now he is back “home”. Human rights groups called for his immediate arrest after four individual victims sued him for crimes against humanity.
Those organisations blame Mr Duvalier for the disappearance and death of thousands of people. Most of those, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais, were performed by the pro-government organisation “tonton macoutes”.
According to Human Rights Watch: “The Duvaliers are estimated to have ordered the deaths of between 20 and 30,000 Haitian civilians. The brutality of their government created the modern Haitian diaspora, driving hundreds of thousands of Haitians into exile in Canada, France, the United States, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere.”
Brian Concannon Jr, Director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) told The Fresh Outlook: “Although the crimes against humanity have only consisted of individual reports, he is likely to be charged for that because there is a lot of evidence of what he did." Harriet Garland, spokesperson for Amnesty International in the UK, warns that there might be some difficulties as many files proving those crimes where destroyed in the earthquake, but adds: “There are still people prepared to give evidence.
The international community will play an important role as human rights groups and organisations from other countries might help to call for justice. “Of course, Haiti has the prime responsibility on this case, but organisations such as the United Nations can provide legal help, advice and security to make his condemn happen easier,” states Mr Concannon.
Ms Garland says that the their role as an international NGO is to observe, listen and support the victims, as well as to develop local campaigns on the ground.
Although Mr Duvalier's lawyer said Baby Doc won't be condemned for the economical crimes in accordance with Haitian laws, this is might not be the case for the alledged crimes against humanity.
Mr Concannon claims that the fact the former president has been out of the country for 25 should not matter: “Legally he should go to prison,” he said.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said that Mr Duvalier’s return increases his chances of be charged with atrocities committed during his 15-year rule because it will be easier to bring charges in the country where the crimes occurred.
Jean-Claude Duvalier was just 19 when, in 1971, he inherited the title of president-for-life from his father, Francois "Papa Doc". That made him the youngest dictator in history, ruling in Haiti until 1986, when he exiled to Paris.
Now it seems that he's back for good.
By Eva Fernandez
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