- Title: Haiti's former President Rene Preval dies
- Date: 3rd March 2017
- Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FILE - FEBRUARY 12, 2010) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** RENE PREVAL, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI, AND HIS CABINET MEMBERS ATTENDING THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS VARIOUS OF HAITI PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL, CABINET MEMBERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH / INCLUDING IN PRAYER TREES HAITI
- Embargoed: 17th March 2017 19:24
- Keywords: Rene Preval Haitian earthquake Port-au-Prince
- Location: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
- City: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00166EQ4P3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former Haitian president Rene Preval, the first leader in Haiti's 202-year history to win a democratic election, serve a full term and peacefully hand power to a successor, has died, the government of the Caribbean nation said on Friday (March 3).
The cause of death was not made public. In 2010, during Preval's second term as president, Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake.
"Some pain can't be described in words. The only answer for all of that pain has been to look for some help, until now... Above all outside. The pain is so heavy. Today we, the Haitian people, have to mourn our dead with dignity," he said at a ceremony for the victims days after the quake.
"I was touched to learn of the death of former President Rene Preval," President Jovenel Moise said on Twitter, describing him as a "dignified son of Haiti."
During his 1996-2001 presidency, Preval managed to build roads and public squares, worked with peasants on land reform, and unlike many of his predecessors was not accused of massive human rights violations, despotism or theft.
His second terms will be remembered more than anything for the earthquake that destroyed much of the capital Port-au-Prince, killing some 200,000 people. Preval's government was criticized for its response to the disaster.
Born in the rural town of Marmelade in 1943, Preval trained as an agronomist before a career in politics that allied him with former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was deposed in a bloody 2004 revolt. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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