HAITI: Amnesty International urges Haiti to hold former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier accountable

Record ID: 644886

  • Title: HAITI: Amnesty International urges Haiti to hold former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier accountable
  • Date: 22nd January 2011
  • Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 21, 2011) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (English) DUCOS SAYING: "So, even what the lawyer said, I mean I know that in Haiti's penal code I think the prescription is 10 years for torture, but there is international customary law that precedes the application that is there and I think that we are asking the investigating judge to work on the principles of international customary law and he's working on solid ground. So any argument in favour of prescription should not be considered because that is not the case" JOURNALISTS SOUNDBITE (English) DUCOS SAYING: "I believe that the Haitian system - well, as you know, it has its deficiencies - but this could happen with the support of the United Nations, for example, they could ask for technical support to the UNDP or even the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights" JOURNALISTS SOUNDBITE (English) DUCOS SAYING: "This is a long process, I don't think we could manage to complete the investigation within the three months that actually the criminal proceedings code establishes, but there's a possibility of extending it and we are also calling for the authorities to allow Haitians, survivors and victims, to come forward and file their complaints" JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti, Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QU1SOFP6F9TFFR6P5G1TZUZK
  • Story Text: Amnesty International on Friday (January 21) welcomed moves in Haiti to bring a case against former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier on charges of crimes against humanity, including torture.
    Duvalier was briefly detained earlier this week and charged by a Haitian state prosecutor with corruption, embezzlement and other alleged crimes during his 1971-1986 rule. He returned unexpected to Haiti from exile on Sunday after 25 years away.
    Four Haitians have filed criminal complaints against him on charges of human rights abuses.
    Under Haitian law, the graft charges brought the by the prosecutor will be investigated by a judge who must decide whether the case should move forward.
    Amnesty International's Gerardo Ducos said the investigation into rights abuse was welcome.
    "So we welcome with great satisfaction the start, the beginning of the investigation on crimes against humanity that have been committed under Jean-Claude Duvalier between 1971 and 1986," he said.
    Amnesty International says it has documented hundreds of human rights abuses committed during Duvalier's rule, including detention without trial, systematic torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions.
    Duvalier was notorious for his crackdown on dissent and opposition during his rule. Critics and rights groups say thousands of his opponents were killed and tortured at the hands of a secret police force known as the Tonton Macoutes.
    Ducos said the pursuit of Duvalier was critical to Haiti's future.
    "It is an extremely important moment for fighting impunity that has prevailed since Jean-Claude Duvalier left the country in 1986 and a step forward to actually establishing the rule of law in Haiti where justice is the main concern, the main driver," said Ducos.
    Ducos said that in the event of any trial, the U.N. could be called upon for support. He appealed for victims of the Duvalier era to step forward.
    "This is a long process, I don't think we could manage to complete the investigation within the three months that actually the criminal proceedings code establishes, but there's a possibility of extending it and we are also calling for the authorities to allow Haitians, survivors and victims, to come forward and file their complaints," said Ducos.
    Duvalier moved from a hotel to a private home in Port-au-Prince on Thursday (January 24) while the judge examines the case.
    Duvalier's lawyer has said the former strongman would remain in Haiti and rejected the charges filed against him as politically motivated.
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