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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 05:27 AM Mar 2013

Former Haiti President ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier grilled in court over his regime

Posted on Thursday, 02.28.13
Former Haiti President ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier grilled in court over his regime

By Jacqueline Charles
Jcharles@MiamiHerald.com

The past and present collided in Haiti on Thursday as a weak and frail-looking Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier showed up in court, submitting to questions about his dictatorial past — and telling appeals court judges that Haiti was “a better country” under his 15-year rule.

Dismissive at times and barely audible, a mumbling Duvalier sat next to a clerk who took copious notes by hand and read his answers to a three-judge panel.

Among the probing questions asked by lead Judge Jean-Joseph Lebrun: Did executions and torture occur between 1971 and 1986?

When Lebrun pressed him about his time as president and asked if he “were aware of murders, executions, political imprisonment,’’ Duvalier responded, “Murder existed in all countries. I did not intervene in .?.?. policies.’’ Duvalier said he had “a positive record, and in all areas.”

Human rights advocates and victims who accuse Duvalier of failing to prevent or punish human rights abuses while he was president hailed the moment as historic. Others cautioned that the hearing was the first step in a long struggle to try the former dictator for corruption and crimes against humanity.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/28/3259925/former-haiti-president-baby-doc.html#storylink=cpy

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