Jean-Claude Duvalier

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baby doc

Jean-Claude Duvalier (born July 3, 1951 in Port-au-Prince , † October 4, 2014 there ), called Baby Doc , was a Haitian politician. He was 1971-1986 dictatorial reigning president of his country.

Life

youth

Duvalier was educated at the best schools in Haiti and after successfully completing the school went to the University of Port-au-Prince, where he studied law. He showed little interest in politics and his country.

president

Jean-Claude Duvalier succeeded his father François Duvalier - known as Papa Doc - at the age of only 19 as head of state. His father had ruled Haiti as dictator since 1957. At the beginning of 1971 his father had the constitution changed so that the minimum age of a president no longer had to be 40, but only 20 years of age. The age of the son was set by decree at 21 years.

A few days after the constitutional amendment, the aging dictator had his son "confirmed" by the people in a referendum as the successor to the office of president. In this referendum, the population voted for Jean-Claude Duvalier as his successor with an alleged 2,391,916 votes in favor and not a single vote against. To date there is no younger president of a country. After his father died on April 21, 1971, he assumed the office of president. He indirectly passed the affairs of state to his older sister, Marie-Denise Duvalier , and his mother, Simone Ovide Duvalier, often performed the ceremonial duties for him . The gray eminence behind Duvalier was Luckner Cambronne , who had already made a career with his father and took care of security issues. Duvalier himself lived mostly the life of a jet set - Playboys .

Initially he initiated some reforms, such as easing press censorship, amnesties for political prisoners and reforming the judiciary, but ultimately not much changed compared to his father's dictatorship. He, too, relied on the Tontons Macoutes , the Haitian militia . All in all, he surrounded himself with self-serving advisors and friends, about whose enrichment and abuse of office he remained silent.

His main income came from the income of the Régie du Tabac , the tobacco administration that controlled Haiti's tobacco monopoly. This tax-free income was later supplemented by additional income from state-owned companies controlled by him. His income was annually at over 100 million US dollars .

marriage

In May 1980 he married Michèle Bennett , who came from the upper class of mulattos in Haiti. Her father had been imprisoned by François Duvalier for various offenses in the meantime, as was her first husband because he had harbored coup plans. After the marriage, Duvalier focused on strengthening Haiti's Mulatto minority. This policy was in contrast to that of his father, who used the black majority of the population as a potential power.

The cost of the presidential couple's opulent wedding was about $ 3 million. He and his wife have two children, François Nicolas and Anya.

End of the presidency

With the visit of the Pope in March 1983 and his public criticism of the situation in Haitian, the discontent of the population began to rise. In October 1985, the riots began in the largest cities in Haiti. Duvalier responded with a ten percent reduction in the maximum prices on basic foodstuffs, the closure of independent radio stations, police and military actions and a cabinet reshuffle. However, these measures were unsuccessful and aggravated the general situation.

The US administration under Ronald Reagan then put pressure on Duvalier to leave the country. Even before that, one had wanted to put pressure on Duvalier with economic sanctions in order to induce more democratization after US-American governments had supported his father and him for decades with economic aid. Duvalier ignored this request.

On February 7, 1986, Duvalier was deposed. He fled into exile in France . The twenty-seven year rule of the two Duvaliers cost the country about 30,000 lives. Duvalier himself saw his abdication from the point of view that he had spared the country a civil war and thus made the way to a fresh start in Haiti possible.

exile

France

For the first time, the Duvalier couple lived in luxury with two apartments in Paris , a villa in Cannes and a castle. In the meantime, the French government placed him under temporary house arrest. Duvalier tried in vain to travel to a country that would have granted him asylum , but the United States refused his entry, as did Gabon , Morocco , Italy , Spain , Greece and the Seychelles .

Attempts by Haitian activists and exiles to bring Duvalier to justice were stopped by the French government in the 1990s. They invoked the fact that Duvalier did not enjoy official asylum status in France. After the Aristide government was overthrown in 2004 , Duvalier announced that he wanted to return to Haiti to take part in the 2005 presidential election as Parti National Uni candidate. However, that did not happen.

In 2007 he announced on a Haitian radio station that he now wanted to return to Haiti because the exile had "broken" him. The incumbent President René Préval then officially allowed Duvalier to enter.

Until early 2011, Duvalier lived in a one-room apartment in Paris with his childhood friend Véronique Roy , whose grandfather, Paul Eugène Magloire , was President of Haiti from 1950 to 1956 and was in exile during the Duvalier reign. She then became his second wife.

Dispute over his fortune

In 1993 he lost most of his fortune when he divorced his wife. By then, he had transferred between $ 300 million and $ 800 million from Haiti to foreign bank accounts. Of this, his CHF 7.6 million, which has been stored in Switzerland, has been a point of contention between the Haitian and Swiss governments since 1986. His mother Simone originally invested the money there. In 2002 the Swiss government froze the account. The account holders of the blocked accounts were asked to prove the legal origin of the funds on them by 2008. In February 2009, the Federal Department of Justice and Police decided that the funds had to be returned to Haiti because the legal origin could not be proven. However, the judgment was forwarded to the Federal Criminal Court . In August 2009, the latter rejected a complaint from a Liechtenstein foundation against the surrender order, because the Duvalier clan was classified as a criminal organization.

A few days after the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, Duvalier spoke again via the British online magazine The Daily Beast . According to his statement, he wanted to donate the no longer controversial millions of his former Swiss account to the people of Haiti through the American Red Cross . Ironically, he has not been the owner of the money since the federal criminal court's appeal judgment; it would have fallen to the Haitian state even without his intervention. In France, the donation announcement caused violent outrage.

The decision of the Federal Criminal Court was referred by the Liechtenstein Foundation to the Federal Court as the final instance. In a judgment published in early February on January 12, 2010, the Federal Supreme Court ruled differently than all previous instances and stated that the funds had to be returned to the Duvalier family, as the related crimes had become statute-barred. The verdict came a few hours before the earthquake in Haiti, and the decision rejected an application by the Haitian government. In response to the ruling, the Swiss Federal Council decided by emergency law to block the Duvalier funds again. The Swiss government wanted to prevent the Swiss financial center from being seen as a refuge for illegally acquired assets. According to reports from the Swiss news agency SDA , the government wanted to change the law in order to be able to confiscate the money and prevent it from being paid out to the Duvalier family members. As of June 2015, the payout to Haiti appeared to have already started. At the end of November 2016 it was reported that the payout was still in preparation, but that various chaotic circumstances in Haiti had made communication difficult, so that no money had yet been paid.

Return to Haiti

On January 16, 2011, Duvalier returned to Haiti after less than 25 years in exile, according to his own statement, “to help”. He was accompanied by his wife Veronique. In Haiti, the two were expected at the airport by former employees, supporters and journalists. Two days later he was questioned by police in a luxury hotel "Karibe" in Port-au-Prince arrested and for questioning the prosecutor's office brought. However, he could leave the public prosecutor's office as a free man, only had to remain available to the judiciary. According to one of his lawyers, arresting Duvalier is incompatible with the Haitian constitution.

The public prosecutor opened an investigation against Duvalier for corruption , embezzlement and theft at the expense of the Haitian treasury. In 2013 Duvalier testified about his regime in front of an examining magistrate , and charges against him for crimes against humanity were subsequently admitted. However, there was never a conviction. He was under house arrest until his death on October 4, 2014. Despite this, the Haitian government issued him a diplomatic passport in 2013 and allowed him to attend various official celebrations as a guest.

The Latin America news pool expressed the opinion that there was a "certain lethargy" in Haitian society regarding the prosecution of Duvalier. This inaction could force victims to re-file their complaints. If the Haitian judiciary could not hear the "Duvalier case normally", the victims would have to go to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights . The incumbent President Michel Martelly had announced that he would like to hold talks with the former Presidents Aristide and Duvalier about reconstruction aid in Haiti, whereby Martelly is closer to Duvalier than Aristide.

According to some confidants of Duvalier, he saw his mistakes in old age and therefore asked the people of Haiti for forgiveness.

death

According to his lawyer Reynold Georges and the Haitian Health Minister Florence Guillaume, Jean-Claude Duvalier died of a heart attack in his home town of Port-au-Prince. Haiti's President Michel Martelly wrote on Twitter : Love and reconciliation must always overcome our internal quarrels. May your soul rest in peace. He also described Duvalier as an authentic son of Haiti .

After Duvalier's death, there was a dispute over whether he should receive a state funeral as the country's former president. The incumbent President Martelly, who was close to some politicians of the Duvalier era, advocated such a mourning ceremony based on protocol rules, which many victims of the regime saw as an insult. Due to the resulting protest, the government abandoned its plan, so that Duvalier should be buried with his family, as his lawyer Reynold Georges told the AFP news agency on October 9, 2014.

On October 11, 2014, a large funeral service with hundreds of people was held for Duvalier in Port-au-Prince. While the incumbent president of the country was absent, two former presidents were present, Boniface Alexandre and Prosper Avril . The coffin was draped with the current Haitian national flag, not the national flag from the time of the Duvalier dictatorship - as a sign that the Duvalier family had renounced that time. The ceremony was overshadowed by a protest rally with three dozen children of the victims of the Duvalier rule in front of the country's civil protection office. After the service, Duvalier's body was cremated.

Afterlife

On November 2, 2014, it was officially announced that the judicial investigations against Duvalier and members of his government would continue. The charges were not limited to Duvalier's person.

Quotes

  • It is the fate of the Haitian people to suffer
  • I take this opportunity to express my deep sadness to my compatriots, who rightly feel that they may have been a victim under my government. (after his return from exile)

Web links

Commons : Jean-Claude Duvalier  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Personal details: JEAN CLAUDE DUVALIER, 19 . In: Der Spiegel . No. 6 , February 1, 1971, p. 142 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 1, 2018]).
  2. ↑ a b HAITI / SUCCESSION: Spirit of the Father . In: Der Spiegel . No. April 18 , 1971 ( spiegel.de [accessed September 30, 2018]).
  3. ↑ Haiti says goodbye to Jean-Claude Duvalier on karibik-news.com on October 12, 2014 (accessed on October 23, 2014)
  4. ↑ Haiti's ex-dictator Duvalier died on Deutsche Welle on October 4, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  5. ↑ Ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier died in Zeit Online on October 4, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  6. ↑ muz-online.de People of Our Time eV: Haiti ( Memento of the original from February 11, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.muz-online.de
  7. ↑ Süddeutsche Zeitung: All the father: Jean-Claude Duvalier (photo series)
  8. ^ Haiti's ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier died in Der Tagesspiegel of October 5, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  9. ↑ Holzer, Birgit: The sudden generosity of Jean-Claude Duvalier. In: Wiener Zeitung (January 19, 2010, accessed November 7, 2013)
  10. ↑ a b Ex-dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier back in Haiti ( memento from January 19, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) sueddeutsche.de , January 17, 2011
  11. ↑ Spang, Thomas: Roots of Disaster. In: Salzburger Nachrichten (January 15, 2010)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.salzburg.com  
  12. ↑ swissinfo.org: Haitian government does not give up Duvalier millions (May 26, 2007)
  13. ↑ a b c No Millions for Dictator Baby Doc '( Memento of the original from February 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive )  Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Süddeutsche Zeitung Online from February 3, 2010.@1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sueddeutsche.de
  14. ↑ Focus Online: Loophole: Millions of rain for ex-dictator (May 21, 2007)
  15. ↑ Federal Department of Justice and Police: Duvalier funds remain blocked: Account holders must prove their legal origin (July 2, 2008) ( Memento of the original from January 14, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ejpd.admin.ch
  16. ↑ Federal Department of Justice and Police: Handover of Duvalier funds to Haiti ordered: Legal origin of assets could not be proven (February 12, 2009)
  17. ↑ NZZ Online: Duvalier money belongs to Haiti: Federal Criminal Court rejects the account holder's complaint (August 14, 2009)
  18. ↑ Federal criminal court judgment: RR.2009.94 (August 12, 2009) (PDF; 122 kB)
  19. ↑ Holzer, Birgit: The sudden generosity of Jean-Claude Duvalier. In: www.wienerzeitung.at (January 20, 2010), accessed on November 22, 2013
  20. ↑ Brändle, Stefan: Baby Doc is generous. In: derstandard.at (January 20, 2010)
  21. ↑ Holzer, Birgit: Haiti's ex-dictator "Baby Doc" is suddenly generous. In: Sächsische Zeitung Online (January 20, 2010)
  22. ↑ Confusion about “Baby Doc” in France: Haiti's ex-dictator wanted to donate stolen property ( Memento from January 21, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), tagesschau.de (January 18, 2010)
  23. ↑ www.swissinfo.ch: Ex-dictator "Baby Doc" wants his money back (August 25, 2009)
  24. ^ Federal court refuses to return Duvalier funds to Haiti Tagesanzeiger, February 3, 2010
  25. ↑ Federal Supreme Court judgment January 12, 2010 (French)
  26. ↑ Switzerland refuses to return the Duvalier million Die Welt , February 4, 2010
  27. ↑ Haiti has to do without Duvalier millions www.spiegel.de, February 3, 2010
  28. ↑ No Duvalier funds for Haiti ( Memento from February 4, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) tagesschau.de, February 3, 2010
  29. ↑ Citizens demand more legal protection for ex-dictators (June 6, 2015)
  30. ↑ Switzerland wants to repay Duvalier's money to Haiti (November 29, 2016)
  31. ↑ Ex-dictator Duvalier returns to Haiti ( Memento from January 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  32. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11943820
  33. ↑ Police take off "Baby Doc" , Der Standard , January 18, 2011
  34. ↑ http://www.hannover-zeitung.net/aktuell/vermischtes/168757-haitis-justiz-ermittelt-gegen-ex-diktator-duvalier  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically defective marked. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Hannover Zeitung , January 19, 2011@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.hannover-zeitung.net  
  35. ↑ Duvalier, trasladado a la Fiscalía para ser interrogado  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / es.noticias.yahoo.com   , EFE of January 18, 2011
  36. ^ Haiti's judiciary initiates corruption investigation , Focus , January 18, 2011
  37. ↑ Haiti's longtime dictator died in Neue Zürcher Zeitung on October 4, 2014 (accessed on October 7, 2014)
  38. ^ Death, Prison or Exile , Augsburger Allgemeine , October 20, 2011
  39. ↑ Haiti's ex-dictator: "Baby Doc" Duvalier is dead. In: Spiegel Online from October 4, 2014 (accessed October 4, 2014).
  40. ↑ The truth must not die with Jean-Claude Duvalier. In: amnesty-haiti.de. Amnesty International , October 7, 2014, accessed August 4, 2020 .
  41. ↑ Ex-President Duvalier: Accusation of corruption instead of human rights crimes. In: News Pool Latin America. January 31, 2012, accessed August 4, 2020 .
  42. ^ UN for reconstruction in Haiti Unplanned helpers, controversial occupiers , sueddeutsche.de , October 16, 2011
  43. ↑ Haitians reject state funeral for Baby Doc. In: Caribbean News. October 9, 2014, archived from the original on October 17, 2014 ; accessed on August 4, 2020 .
  44. ^ Haiti says goodbye to Jean-Claude Duvalier. In: Caribbean News. October 12, 2014, archived from the original on February 7, 2016 ; accessed on August 4, 2020 .
  45. ↑ Died of a heart attack Ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier is dead in Focus online from October 5, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  46. ↑ Haiti's ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier is dead in Welt.de on October 4, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  47. ↑ Ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier died in Zeit Online on October 4, 2014 (accessed October 5, 2014)
  48. ↑ Jean-Claude Duvalier died at the age of 63 in Stuttgarter Nachrichten of October 4, 2014 (accessed October 7, 2014)
  49. ↑ Haiti ex-dictator Duvalier gets well state funeral on Yahoo .com (accessed on 8 October 2014) from October 6, 2014
  50. ↑ Haiti's former dictator Duvalier is to have a state funeral Zeit-online.de of October 6, 2014 (accessed on October 8, 2014)
  51. ↑ But no state funeral for Duvalier on Kölner Stadt Anzeiger kasta.de from October 9, 2014 (accessed October 9, 2014)
  52. ↑ Haiti's former dictator Duvalier will not get a temporary state funeral Online from October 9, 2014 (accessed October 9, 2014)
  53. ↑ Haiti says goodbye to Jean-Claude Duvalier on karibik-news.com on October 12, 2014 (accessed on October 23, 2014)
  54. ^ Haiti: Proceedings against Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, continues after his death on karibik-newa..com of November 2, 2014 (accessed on November 3, 2014)
  55. ^ Haiti's former dictator Duvalier died in FAZ.net on October 4, 2014 (accessed October 7, 2014)
  56. ↑ Jean-Claude Duvalier died at the age of 63 in Stuttgarter Nachrichten of October 4, 2014 (accessed October 7, 2014)
  57. ↑ Haiti says goodbye to Jean-Claude Duvalier on karibik-news.com on October 12, 2014 (accessed on October 23, 2014)
predecessor Office successor
François Duvalier President of Haiti
April 21, 1971–6. February 1986 		Henri Namphy
personal data
SURNAME Duvalier, Jean-Claude
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Baby Doc (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Haitian politician and dictator
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd July 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH Port-au-Prince
DATE OF DEATH 4th October 2014
Place of death Port-au-Prince