Will Haiti Arrest “Baby Doc” Duvalier?

Baby Doc Duvailer Returns to Haiti, Human Rights Group Urge Ravaged Nation to Arrest and Try Ex-President
 
According to the BBC, Former Haiti President Jean-Claude Duvalier has returned to the country amidst outrage from Human Rights Groups. Duvalier, known as the “Baby Doc”, committed horrific human rights violations during his 1971-1986 presidency.

The Baby Doc’s human rights violations caused over 100,000 Haitians to flee the country during his reign. Duvalier inherited the title of President from his father, “Papa Doc” Duvalier, when he was just 19. Duvalier immediately declared himself “President-for-Life,” apparently because the title of “dictator” was too succinct for the Haitian teenager.

“Baby Doc” Duvalier was finally ousted in 1986 as the result of extreme political pressure from the US and a popular uprising. He fled to France, where he never officially received political asylum, but likely bought a lot of those light-up Eiffel Towers and angrily threw them at tourists.

Duvalier claimed that he had “come to help,” though his plans are unclear, or if his definition of “helping” has changed since he enjoyed torturing his fellow countrymen over breakfast. Human Rights activist railed against Duvalier very succinctly to the BBC:

“Duvalier’s return to Haiti should be for one purpose only – to face justice,” he said in a statement. “His time to be held accountable is long overdue.

“Duvalier’s presence – unless he is immediately arrested – is a slap in the face to a people who have already suffered so much.”

While we agree, the country’s Prime Minister does not. According to the BBC, “Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said Mr Duvalier was free to return home, adding that there was no reason to believe he would destabilise the country which is facing uncertainty after disputed presidential elections.”

Duvalier has a return ticket back to France for January 20th, but anyone who’s tried to buy a one-way ticket before knows that it’s pretty much impossible. A) First, one-way tickets are usually more expensive and B) it’s a one-way ticket to an investigation room at the airport. Duvalier was once reportedly to be worth over 6 million dollars, although it’s unknown how much money he has now, or if he named his own price on his ticket.

Haiti, ravaged by an earthquake a year ago, has been in turmoil as the world’s attention has turned elsewhere. Their political elections are incredibly uncertain, and Duvalier arrived on the day when the second round of elections were planned to take place to replace outgoing President Rene Preval.

 by Joe Lazauskas