- Title: HAITI: Haitians and U.S. government react to Baby Doc's detention
- Date: 19th January 2011
- Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 18, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE RUNNING ALONG CAR CARRYING JEAN-CLAUDE "BABY DOC" DUVALIER (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) BABY DOC SUPPORTER FRANCOIS, SAYING: "Long live Jean-Claude Duvalier. They (Preval government) are killing a lot of people as well. They are the ones who should be arrested. They are putting all the charges on Jean-Claude Duvalier, and Jean-Claude Duvalier was doing good to the country." CROWD OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE WHERE DUVALIER WAS TAKEN (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) BABY DOC SUPPORTER PIERRE SALOMON, SAYING: "During Jean-Claude Duvalier's regime, people were taking care of us in the country. Right now, Jean-Claude Duvalier is not here and we are in misery." CROWDED STREET WITH A CAR COMING THROUGH GENERAL VIEW OF BABY DOC SUPPORTER BEING INTERVIEWED PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 18, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) BABY DOC SUPPORTER DUPERVAL, SAYING: "I was born in 1952. I've been a victim all my life. My father was in the military and I was 9 years old when he was killed. He was an activist for change." PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 18, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE PROTESTING IN SUPPORT OF JEAN-CLAUDE. PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 18, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) BABY DOC SUPPORTER DUPERVAL, SAYING: "For me, this is a joy (Duvalier's comeback). To work on all the people and this country, we wish that Duvalier be part of solving the problem in this country, not be part of the problem." PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JANUARY 18, 2011) (REUTERS) REPORTERS AND CAMERAMEN CLIMBING ON TOP OF ENTRANCE OFFICE TO COURTHOUSE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF BABY DOC
- Embargoed: 3rd February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Haiti, Haiti, Usa
- City:
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEV6UMSM5T1F5OOISKHH5NDJF6
- Story Text: Haiti residents reacted to the detention of former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier on Tuesday (January 18).
Duvalier, 59, who fled Haiti in 1986 from a popular uprising, was questioned at the chief prosecutor's office in Port-au-Prince after armed police escorted him from the luxury hotel where he had stayed since his unexpected arrival on Sunday.
His return to his poor, earthquake-battered Caribbean homeland was a shock to Haitians and to foreign governments at a time when the country is in the midst of a political crisis caused by chaotic and inconclusive elections held on Nov. 28.
Duvalier supporters shouting "Free Duvalier! Free Duvalier!" chased the police vehicle taking him away, and some tried to block its path with burning tires but the convoy evaded them.
"Long live Jean-Claude Duvalier. They (Preval government) are killing a lot of people as well. They are the ones who should be arrested. They are putting all the charges on Jean-Claude Duvalier, and Jean-Claude Duvalier was doing good to the country," said supporter Francois.
Haitian authorities in the past have accused Duvalier and his clan of plundering state coffers of several hundred million dollars and hiding the money abroad, but the former dictator still enjoys some support.
"During Jean-Claude Duvalier's regime, people were taking care of us in the country. Right now, Jean-Claude Duvalier is not here and we are in misery," said resident Pierre Salomon.
Haitian authorities plan to prosecute Duvalier on possible corruption charges after human rights groups had demanded his arrest following his surprise return from exile.
Reactions in Port-Au-Prince were mixed.
"I was born in 1952. I've been a victim all my life. My father was in the military and I was 9 years old when he was killed. He was an activist for change," said Dupreval, a Baby Doc supporter.
"For me, this is a joy (Duvalier's comeback). To work on all the people and this country, we wish that Duvalier be part of solving the problem in this country, not be part of the problem," added Dupreval.
The White House weighed in on the matter on Tuesday (January 18) during a news conference held in Washington, D.C.
"I think we are in a period of obviously some uncertainty in Haiti," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
"Current or former political actors should be focused on not what is best for them but what is best for the people of Haiti. That goes for anybody, either in power or formerly in power," added Gibbs.
Gibbs said he'd just learned that Haitian authorities had detained Duvalier but offered no further comment on the former leader's status. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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