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Haiti: Jean-Claude Duvalier should be tried for crimes against humanity
Human rights groups have condemned a decision not to try Jean-Claude Duvalier, Haiti’s former ruler, on crimes against humanity.
A Haitian judge decided this week that Duvalier, known as Baby Doc, should not stand trial for crimes against humanity.
He is accused of the torture and murder of thousands of his own people during his 15 year rule in the seventies and eighties.
A year ago, Duvalier made a surprise return to the country after 25 years in exile.
The judge ruled that his alleged crimes fell outside Haiti’s statute of limitations. The judge, however, did say that Duvalier should stand trial on corruption charges. He is accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars during his rule.
In heavily criticising the decision, human rights groups say they gave prosecutors hundreds of documents detailing cases of abuse.
Human Rights Watch called it the most important criminal case in Haitian history.
