Politics
Haiti: More calls for further investigation on Duvalier human rights abuse case
An investigative judge in 2012 threw out the human rights charges against Duvalier, saying the statute of limitations had expired, and recommended that he face charges only for the alleged financial crimes.
Duvalier’s legal team appealed, saying he was innocent of all the charges.
The case seemed stuck until early last year, when victims gave 2 months of court testimony alleging abuse, illegal detentions and forced exile during Duvalier’s rule.
Duvalier last year made a surprise appearance in court, describing Haiti as a “better place under his watch” and saying he opposed abuse.
Thousands of people were allegedly imprisoned, tortured or killed for opposing Duvalier’s regime, and he wielded his influence through a private militia known as the Tonton Macoutes. He became president at age 19, the youngest in the world, after the death of his predecessor and father, “Papa Doc” Duvalier.
Jean-Claude Duvalier was ousted in 1986 amid a popular uprising.
Source: Associated Press
