Monday, January 17, 2011

25 years in exile: former dictator "Baby Doc" returns to Haiti

For 25 years he was in exile - now ex-dictator Duvalier, also known as "Baby Doc", returned unexpectedly to violence-ridden Haiti. "I'm here to help," says the man who would be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. His return could further destabilize the country. Port-au-Prince - Haiti is struggling with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, with a cholera epidemic - there is a political power vacuum.


In the midst of serious crisis is now surprisingly, the Haitian ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier returned to his native country. As Haitian media reported as "Baby Doc" 59-year-old was known on Sunday, accompanied by his wife Veronique on board an Air France plane at the airport at Port-au-Prince to.

There he was greeted by a small band of followers, including his former Foreign Minister Adrian Raymond and former head of the presidential guard Christophe Dardompré. Numerous journalists and onlookers had gathered himself. "I'm here to help," Duvalier said late Sunday afternoon after his arrival.

According to his partner Veronique Roy, he went after leaving the plane on his knees to kiss the soil of his homeland. Reason for the return of the pair was the earthquake of 12 was January 2010 with about 250,000 dead, "Roy said. "That was the trigger. We have seen the pictures on television.

"Duvalier possess a diplomatic passport," she said. After the death of his father, Francois Duvalier, who was called "Papa Doc", was Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1971 at age 19 the youngest head of state of the world. After a popular uprising that began in late 1985, he had to rely on U.S. pressure in 1986 the country and fled to France where he lived on the Cote d'Azur.

During his rule in Haiti, the now 59-year-old, his family and followers, according to information . the Haitian authorities more than $ 100 million state funds have embezzled Duvalier is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people from him is the quote. "It is the fate of the people of Haiti suffer." 2007 asked Duvalier, the Haitian people for forgiveness the "during his term mistakes." President René Préval announced then, an apology is only possible if Duvalier of the judiciary within.

The return of the former dictator, is surprising and unfavorable at a time. In the poor house in America that still struggling with the consequences of the devastating earthquake of January 2010, had on November 28, chaos elections took place with massive irregularities. On Thursday, the Organization of American States (OAS) recommendations passed for the progress of the presidential elections in Haiti President René Préval.

About the content made the members of the delegation of experts not available. Actually, on Sunday the second round should have taken place. But the Provisional Electoral Council said the appointment at short notice. Since the results of the first vote in November were not yet announced the date could not be met.

The outgoing president Préval had previously said he would not be the end of his mandate on 7 February can leave office, because until then there would be no new head of state.

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