Haiti court says human rights charges can be brought against Duvalier

[okaawhatever]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A Haitian appellate court on Thursday ruled that deposed dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier could be charged with crimes against humanity under international law and that he may also be held responsible for abuses committed by the army and paramilitary under his rule.

The appellate court reversed a ruling by a judge in 2012 who said Duvalier could not be charged with crimes against humanity filed by alleged victims of forced disappearances and torture during his rule because the statute of limitations had run out.

"Right has triumphed," said human rights lawyer Pierre Esperance. "It's monumental. Haiti is not isolated and international right applies in the country. So crimes against humanity are part of our law."

The court postponed, however, a long-awaited decision on whether Duvalier, commonly known as "Baby Doc," should face trial for human rights abuses and public corruption.

Continued at Link:

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-haiti-duvalier-idUSBREA1J2D220140220

[Judi Lynn]

1. Will the US Continue to Obstruct Justice for Duvalier's Victims in Haiti?

Will the US Continue to Obstruct Justice for Duvalier's Victims in Haiti?
Wednesday, 27 February 2013 12:04
By Dan Beeton, Alexander Main and Jake Johnston, Truthout | Op-Ed

In Argentina, Guatemala, Peru and other countries in the region, former dictators and many of those responsible for egregious human rights violations under former authoritarian regimes have been tried, or are in the process of being tried, for their crimes. In Haiti, for the first time, there appears to be genuine hope that Haiti's former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier will face human rights charges in court. But there's still a difficult road ahead, and one of the main obstacles may be the US government.

After Duvalier repeatedly failed to appear at appeals hearings regarding human rights charges, a Haitian judge issued an order for him to appear on February 28, meaning that Duvalier could be escorted there by authorities. If Duvalier finally does appear before the court, it will be the first time that he will be obliged to address political violence crimes that occurred during his 15-year dictatorship (1971-1986), which followed the 14-year dictatorship of his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier (1957-1971).

Currently, Duvalier is facing charges of corruption which have been admitted by the Haitian courts. But on January 30, 2012, Investigative Judge Carves Jean rejected human rights charges brought against the former dictator, claiming they exceeded the statute of limitations. The hearings to which Duvalier has been summoned recently have been convened to address the appeal of the judge's decision by victims' lawyers.

Judge Jean's ruling shocked the human rights community. Duvalier is one of the hemisphere's more notorious past dictators, infamous for brutally crushing dissent with the assistance of the dreaded "Tonton Macoute" secret police and the Haitian army during 15 years in power. During his rule, thousands were killed - many of them buried in mass graves - and thousands tortured. Hundreds of thousands more fled the country, some of them turned back by US ships seeking to prevent them from reaching US shores.

More:
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/14832-will-the-us-continue-to-obstruct-justice-for-duvaliers-victims-in-haiti

(My emphasis.)

[hollysmom]

2. Is he still alive, it all seemed so long ago.

I worked with someone who escaped the ton ton macoute as a child and had the machine gun scars to show it. We became friends because I had just read a book about the liberation of Haiti from France. He brought me up to date on the Duvaliers.

[okaawhatever]

3. Baby Doc became President of Haiti at age 20 when his father died. He was born in 1951 and took

over in 1971. He's only 62 so he could still do a pretty decent prison sentence. Let's hope.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. This is great news!

It is good for the people of Haiti and the whole world!