Political

Haiti: With this Government, Duvalier Can Rest Easy says Human Rights Grp

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht)– In this early 2012, some criticize the inaction of Haitian justice towards the former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier who on January 16 brought the first anniversary of his return from exile in Haiti.

The National Network of Human rights (RNDDH) was the first this year to criticize the "preferential treatment" enjoyed by the former president for life of Haiti Jean Claude Duvalier.

In a statement, RNDDH, lamented the fact that Mr. Duvalier was repeatedly invited to take part in official ceremonies organized by the current power while it challenges the justice of his country.

"This fact is a clear signal that the team in place shows no inclination to fight impunity in Haiti", criticized the organization considering this preferential treatment enjoyed by a former president for life a blow to Haitian justice and the victims of Duvalier’s regime.

The former dictator was under house arrest by the Préval administration, but since coming to power of Michel Martelly, Jean-Claude Duvalier is free as air, pushing the audacity to be on December 16, 2011 sponsor a promotion of law students in Gonaïves (Northern Haiti). On this occasion, Duvalier had requested the observance of a minute's silence in memory of three young school children murdered by his henchmen in 1985 in this city. The height of the peak. A real snub to organizations to human rights requiring his trial.

In this sense, some even speak of an attempt to rehabilitate Jean-Claude Duvalier, who is under investigation for a host of violations of human rights, including torture, disappearances and executions sketchy.

Speaking of trying to rehabilitate the former head of the militia of the terrible "Tonton Macoutes," said the agency AlterPresse, Duvalier attended the commemoration ceremony to commemorate the victims of the earthquake of 2010 in Saint-Christophe (Northern the capital), together with the Head of State, Joseph Michel Martelly and Special Envoy of the UN, Bill Clinton, January 12, 2012 ...

Others Voice Concern

The Canadian government also expressed its concern that the former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier is still at large, a year after his return to Haiti.

While in Port-au-Prince, said La Presse of Montreal, where he leads a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians, the Foreign Minister, John Baird, said that Mr. Duvalier is facing allegations "very, very serious".

" Of course, we are concerned that he's in Haiti, and that he's at large. I hope that the Haitian justice will take note of this and act accordingly. "

These comments came while Amnesty International protests against the inertia of the Haitian justice system, which did not lay charges against Baby Doc.

But can the Haitian judicial system take any action against the former dictator whose son Nicolas is one of the presidential advisers? We know that in Haiti the judiciary is not fully independent of political power. Will a government commissioner or a Minister of Justice of the Government Martelly challenge his position to induce a charge or lawsuit against Jean-Claude Duvalier?

The answer to this question is no. Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Duvalier goes around the country, is acclaimed as a campaigning presidential candidate.

On Monday, January 16, the dictator drove to the city of Jacmel (121 km southeast of Port-au-Prince) to relax with comrades of his father, reports AlterPresse.

Like to celebrate his homecoming and in defiance of thousands of victims of his regime (1971 -1986), the dictator posed as harvester of Jacmelians’ claims promising to work for them.

Since the swearing in of President Martelly in May 2011, legal proceedings against Duvalier for crimes against humanity, destruction of private property, torture, violations of civil and political rights, not moving an inch.

Is there any chance that Haitian justice does its job with this pro-Duvalier regime?