Journalist Plans to File Charges Against 'Baby Doc'

[Hissyspit]

Source: CNN

Journalist plans to file charges against 'Baby Doc'
January 18th, 2011
01:04 AM ET

Michele Montas, a Haitian journalist and a former spokeswoman for the U.N. Secretary-General, said Monday night that she plans to file a criminal complaint against former Haitian ruler Jean-Claude Duvalier.

"We have enough proof. There are enough people who can testify. And what I will do is go to a public prosecutor and there is a public prosecutor that could actually accommodate our complaints," she told CNN's "Parker Spitzer."

Under Duvalier's presidency, thousands were killed and tortured, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians fled into exile, says human rights group Amnesty International.

Read more: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/journalist-plans-to-file-charges-against-baby-doc/

[rabs]

1. That may be what is needed

(Translation below mine. But there may not be enough time. Le Monde reported today that Baby Doc has a return flight ticket to Paris on Thursday. His canceled news conference on Monday has been rescheduled for today (Tuesday.)

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The prime minister of Haiti, Jean-Max Bellerive, said on Monday that dictator Jean Claude "Baby Doc" could face justice if charges are filed against him.

"Exile is banned by the Haitian Constitution. All citizens can return to their country, but this also signifies that all citizens are subject to Haitian law," Bellerive told a group of journalists on Monday.

"If there are judicial proceedings in which (Duvalier) is implicated, justice will do what it has to do. That is all that I have to say at this moment," the prime minister said.

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El primer ministro de Haití, Jean-Max Bellerive, afirmó este lunes que el dictador Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, quien arribó a la nación caribeña con motivos desconocidos, puede ser llevado ante la Justicia si se presentan cargos en su contra.

"El exilio está prohibido por la Constitución haitiana. Todos los ciudadanos pueden volver a su país, pero esto también significa que todos los ciudadanos están sujetos a la ley haitiana", dijo este lunes Bellerive a un grupo de periodistas.

"Si hay procedimientos judiciales en los que (Duvalier) está implicado, la Justicia hará lo que tenga que hacer. Es todo lo que tengo que decir por el momento", señaló el primer ministro.

Spanish

http://www.telesurtv.net/secciones/noticias/87418-NN/primer-ministro-haitiano-asegura-que-dictador-baby-doc-duvalier-puede-ser-juzgado/

[sabrina 1]

2. Has the Obama administration, Clinton, or anyone from

this country said anything yet about this outrage? Isn't he wanted somewhere, at the Hague eg, for war crimes? This would seem like a good opportunity to arrest him.

The U.S. arrested the son of Liberia's dictator, Taylor and tried him here for war crimes (ironic considering we are moving on from prosecuting our own war criminals).

I find the silence from this WH to be very disturbing. I know the murdering Duvaliers were friends of the Bushes but we voted for change.

Well, we thought we did.

[rabs]

3. There was a Twitter response from Hillary flack Phillip Crowley last night

"We are surprised by the timing of Duvalier's visit to Haiti. It adds unpredictability at an uncertain time in Haiti's election process," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in a post to blogging site Twitter.

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Note that he says State was surprised by the "timing" of the visit, and not by the visit itself. What that implies, beats me.

As of tonight, the situation was murky. Results of the Insulza-Preval meeting still unclear, as is the sudden arrival of Baby Doc. Le Monde reported that he has a return flight ticket to Paris on Thursday.

Just have to wait to see what this is all about.

[sabrina 1]

5. Yes, I did notice that their surprise was only at the 'timing'.

Disgraceful response imho. It is very unlikely that this weasel would have gone there if he had not been given a green light by someone.

Airc, Aristedes was told NOT to attempt to return when he expressed a desire to do so after the earthquake.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. I don't think he's wanted for war crimes

He ran ran a police state in Haiti and committed crimes against the Haitian people, but he never went to war against a foreign state.

Please keep in mind that whatever you read or hear about Baby Doc, Papa Doc was far, far worse.

[sabrina 1]

6. I know Papa Doc was worse, and a good friend of Bush Sr.

But that is no recommendation for Baby Doc. His crimes against the people of Haiti are crimes. If I said 'war crimes' I misspoke, probably thinking of our own unindicted criminals. Although the war was against the people of Haiti.

Torture is a crime and he is a criminal. Not to mention the money he stole from the people of Haiti.

Crimes against humanity. Western Colonialists protect their dictators. As they protected Pinochet and the The Shah.

All of whom should have been prosecuted.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. When Baby Doc ruled, a spokesman for the underground said . . .

"Were aren't saying he's the worst monster in the world, but he is a monster."

[sabrina 1]

8. Everything is relevant.

That's a good way of putting it. I guess when you're talking about dictators there are degrees like anything else. And even a 'baby' dictator is still a dictator who should have been prosecuted, but in this upside-down world we live in, he has lived a life of luxury on stolen money while the people of Haiti starved. This world needs help badly.

Thanks for the quote ~ :-)