Sunday, January 23, 2011

The call for "reconciliation" by Jean-Claude Duvalier

Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier was a semblance of a mea culpa. In a brief statement delivered in a weak voice in French and Creole from his home in Petionville, an enclave of the elite Haitian popular in the hills above Port-au-Prince, the former strong man of Port-au-Prince wanted to express his "deep sadness for those who recognize, rightly, to have suffered under (his) government".

Explanations of his return were not more accurate than its off the plane Sunday and journalists could not ask any questions. Without apologizing for atrocities committed during his reign by his supporters, said Duvalier be returned "to show solidarity in this extremely difficult period in the life of the nation" and to help "rebuild the country." A hundred of his supporters gathered at his house, chanting to the beat of drums, "Duvalier, the country is yours, do with it what you want".

"Baby Doc", which is the subject of an investigation in his country for crimes against humanity committed during his dictatorship (1971-86), according to Amnesty International, called on Haitians to "national reconciliation" and hoped for a "rapid unwinding of the political crisis," nearly two months after a disputed presidential election.

Mr. Duvalier, 59, who returned Sunday in Port-au-Prince 25 years of exile in France, appeared to have difficulty speaking and left the podium after a short ten minutes, leaving the floor to his lawyers . He did not answer any question and gave no indication of his intentions, including a possible political comeback.

He said he was "impressed by the hospitality" that has "been reserved for this visit, especially by the crowd of youngsters who did not know his presidency. A former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr, has sided with "Baby Doc" after his call. "Duvalier explained that the love he feels for his country and compassion for all Haitians to the disaster suffered in the earthquake last year exceeded the risks for his return to Haiti," said the former representative, a hardline Republican.

The former dictator has been accused Tuesday of corruption, embezzlement and conspiracy, committed during his presidency and was served with a prohibition on leaving the country. For its part, the popular singer Michel Martelly, came third in the first round of the presidential election on November 28, threatened at a press conference to urge his supporters to take to the streets if the Electoral Council accept not the recommendations of the Organization of American States (OAS) who suggested to give him second place.

If he got satisfaction, he would be opposed to the second round to former first lady, Mirlande Manigat, and the government candidate, Jude Celestin, would be excluded from the race. According to the OAS, who investigated the results of the first round, Mr. Celestin has benefited from fraud that allowed him access narrowly in second place.

Outgoing President René Préval, who must relinquish power on February 7, has still not responded to these recommendations despite pressure from the international community that have further increased Friday, Washington had announced the revocation of visas of a number of "responsible government" in Haiti.
Posted by Manlio Gandolfi at 6:37 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)