One such malevolent dictator was francois duvalier. He succeeded his father francois papa doc duvalier as the ruler of haiti. Today, haitians are one of the largest post 1965 immigrant groups in new york city. Jeanclaude baby docduvalier, who is now of the age of 56, spoke in the language of voltaire, the language of the haitian middleclass and bourgeoisie, that is french, not creole, the language of the haitian masses, apologized for the odious political crimes committed by his quasi15yearold dictatorial regime, the pillaging of the public. You are charged with the mistreatment and murder of hundreds of thousands of haitians from 1957 to 1986, you ruled haiti with an iron. Jeanclaude duvalier nicknamed baby doc was a haitian politician who was the president of haiti from 1971 until he was overthrown by a popular uprising in 1986.
Haiti from the book the cias greatest hits by mark zepezauer. Evidence for the allegations francois duvaliers alleged crimes articles of the rome statute article 6 a genocide by killing article 7 1 f crime against humanity of torture article 7 1 g1 crime against humanity of rape article 7 1 a crime against humanity of murder. Although the reviled united nations occupation force remains the main muscle in haiti, the farcically elected president, michel martelly,seems to be acting like a dictatorinwaiting. Francois duvalier got his start as a physician which was the source of his nickname, papa doc who worked in the haitian government beginning in the mid1940s. Under his regime of suppression and terror, over 30,000 haitians were killed and many more exiled. The damage america has done in haiti the washington post. In 1971, the tyrannical francois papa doc duvalier was ill and dying, so he anointed his only son, then 19, to succeed him. Preface the aim of this book is to describe the events and circumstances which led to the rise and fall of the duvalier dictatorship in haiti. Martelly argued that duvalier should receive amnesty for decades of human rights violations, including arresting, torturing, and killing political opponents in a notorious threeprison triangle of. The skeleton is provided by a framework of haitis history from colonization to the exile of its first elected postduvalier president. Duvalier regime in haiti and immigrant health in the united.
Their rule resulted in the murder of 30,000 to 60,000 haitians, the exile. Duvalier graduated in 1934 from the university of haiti school of medicine, where he served as a hospital staff physician until 1943, when he became prominently active in the u. Duvalier in haiti, we must begin with francois papa doc duvalier. The fact that papa doc was able to control the haitian people by ruling with an iron fist policy and maintaining a large and viscous guard, known as the ton ton macoutes, make it surprising that anyone would dare attempt to defy his orders and remove him from his coveted position. Oct 05, 2014 duvalier inherited power from his similarly cruel father, papa doc in 1971, when he was made president for life aged just 19. He was elected president in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform.
Francois papa doc duvalier biography birthday, trivia. Simone duvalier mama doc, wife of haitian dictator francois. Francois duvalier, byname papa doc, born april 14, 1907, portauprince, haiti died april 21, 1971, portauprince, president of haiti whose. On this day in 1986, haitis president jeanclaude baby doc duvalier fled to france with his wife to avoid a military coup. From 1957 to 1971, francois papa doc duvalier ruled haiti under the mysterious guise of framing himself as a voodoo deity. Francois duvalier 19071971 was haitian president for life. Duvalier now exercised more power in haiti than ever. Feb 03, 2014 i bring to you this documentary filmed in 1968 showcasing an interesting cast of comedians, i mean, characters. Haiti military regimes and the duvaliers britannica. On april 19, 1963, a military plot against duvalier was uncovered and crushed. Duvalier was more conciliatory in his willingness to follow u. This provides a thorough recounting of the multiple attempts to supplant papa doc.
He was exiled after an uprising in 1986 and spent 25 years in refuge in france. However, aristides reformist policies alienated the wealthy elite, and, after he. Its not like duvalier or assad passing the torch to the son and heir. Francois duvalier was the president of haiti from 1957 until his death. He challenged cuba, the dominican republic, and the united states, leaving the country with few political allies. Early life edit she was born simone ovide in about 19 near the haitian town of leogane, the daughter of a mulatto merchant and writer, jules faine, and celie ovide, one of. With the armys support, he was elected to the presidency in 1957. His father was a school teacher and municipal court judge. Duvalier even went so far as to indoctrinate haitian chil dren with a political catechism that. President reagans policies concerning haitian immigration remain to be seen.
The mere facts of these exploits seemed comical though tragic in their failure. The trump impeachment hearings fiona hill and david holmes. As recently as ten years ago, ammunition clips could still be found among the scattered coral heads. Trained as a physician and known to his people as papa doc, duvalier ruled his country as no other haitian chief executive had, using violence and phony elections to hold down any opposition. Francois duvalier, byname papa doc, born april 14, 1907, portauprince, haitidied april 21, 1971, portauprince, president of haiti whose. Information and translations of papa doc in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The book reveals how duvalier sucked the last of life from of this longsuffering country.
Upon his return in january 2011, duvalier was briefly detained on corruption, theft and misappropriation of funds charges. He opposed a military coup detat in 1950 and was elected as president in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform. In the aftermath of the 1958 coup detat attempt, to keep the populace subservient, papa doc created a paramilitary force called the tonton macoutes haitian. The root of haitis economic and social problem today can be traced back to the debt haiti was forced to. Little is known of the origins of francois duvalier. He won the elections by a large majority against a mulatto candidate duvalier, who was black, was seen by the population at large as a man of the people.
Throughout history, mankind has seen the rise and fall of many ruthless dictators. Francois duvalier also known as papa doc, was the president of haiti from 1957 to 1971. Francois duvalier, president of haiti whose 14year regime was of unprecedented duration in that country. Haiti in perspective orientation guide and cultural. The nixon administration restored the united states aid program for haiti in. The skeleton is provided by a framework of haitis history from colonization to the exile of its first elected post duvalier president. After thwarting a military coup detat in 1958, his regime rapidly became. The area where usaid started the food for work program and that was. Baby doc duvalier arrested in haiti world socialist web site. After thwarting a military coup detat in 1958, his regime rapidly became totalitarian and despotic.
A vote on the new constitution was held, and on june 22, 1964, duvalier was officially named president for life. Sweet micky, as he is known, is a fan of papa and baby doc duvalier, the father and son despots who slaughtered tens of thousands. Francois papa doc duvalier was elected to presidency in the 1957 general election, and he declared himself president for life following the 1964 constitutional referendum. Geography, history, economy, religion, customs, duvalier, vodou voodoo, aristide, catholicism, portauprince, windward passage by progressive management available from rakuten kobo. Papa doc duvalier voodoo societies matos spells and magic. These events included the election of francois papa doc duvalier to the. Read haiti in perspective orientation guide and cultural orientation. But for me at least, it was a surprise to see that democrat ron brown was also one of his defenders. The dictator in this case was the brutal haitian despot, papa doc duvalier. Under your regime, haiti was marked by extreme poverty and wealth, as it still is today.
Haitian immigrants and the greater caribbean community of new. Hij werd na zijn overlijden opgevolgd door zijn zoon jeanclaude alias baby doc. Papa doc duvalier 19071971 born in portauprince, haiti in 1907, francois duvalier had a front seat for an era of latin american political turmoil. The invasion of us marines on haitian soil in 1915, followed by incessant violent repressions of political dissent, and american installed puppet rulers left a powerful impression on the young duvalier, as did the latent political power of. Papa doc cast his spell through the artful use of voodoo, which in effect is haitis national religion. When papa doc died in 1971, his 19yearold son, called baby doc, became presidentforlife. Francois duvalier was the notorious ruler of haiti throughout the 1960s. Jul 31, 2012 sweet micky, as he is known, is a fan of papa and baby doc duvalier, the father and son despots who slaughtered tens of thousands. Watch nov 21 how testimonies from fiona hill and david holmes filled in sondlands gaps. Duvalier definition, haitian physician and dictator. Mar 14, 2011 in contrast, obama administration has no problem with the return to haiti of the bloody baby doc dictator, jean claude duvalier, who along with his father, papa doc dulavier, where together responsible for the death of 60,000 to 100,000 haitians from 1957 to 1986. Jeanclaude baby doc duvalier died before he could be held accountable for the crimes. As he was driven to the airport, haitians heckled him. Trained as a physician and known to his people as papa doc, duvalier dominated his country and its institutions as no other haitian chief executive.
Haitis exleader jeanclaude baby doc duvalier had the right to return to the country but must now. Francois duvalier, president of the republic of haiti, is trying to make it possible to succeed him, peers over the palace fence as he watched a carnival last sunday at port au prince. Francois duvalier, papa doc, became president following a campaign in which he sought to rally the countrys noiriste. Decades of the duvalier regime in haiti and immigrant health in the united states a.
Papa doc maintained his presidency until his death in 1971. Huge likenesses of papa doc, as he enjoyed being called, were plastered on walls in his. The fervor and singlemindedness of this deification probably have no precedent in history. At 64, weakened by heart attacks and chronic diabetes. He advanced black interests in the public sector, where over time, people of colour had predominated as the educated urban elite. Zowel papa doc als baby doc werden aangesteld voor het leven en. Francois papa doc duvalier by breanna kehoe on prezi. Jan 23, 2011 image caption jeanclaude duvalier is staying in a hotel in haitis capital, portauprince. Nelson rockefeller right visits papa doc francois papa doc duvalier reign of terror. It surpasses anything i have read about the roman or babylonian or even pharaonic excesses.
Jeanbertrand aristide, jeanclaude baby doc duvalier. Papa doc, a ruthless dictator, kept the haitians in illiteracy and. Known as papa doc and initially popular, duvalier remained president until his death in 1971. Baby doc, marie denise, mrs max adolph and colonel gracias made cameo appearances. Early life francois duvalier was born in portauprince, haiti, on april 14. Health status average marginal effect 95% con dence interval b gender males n 2 438 females n. Francois duvalier biography life, family, name, death. Papa doc duvalier he was a medical doctor also relied on voodoo incantations and, during a 1959 uprising, the timely assistance of the us military. Jan 19, 2011 the duvalier dynasty begun by papa doc in 1957 was founded, in the first instance, upon the power of the uscreated haitian army, which handed him the presidency. Backed exdictator baby doc duvalier wont end haitian victims quest for justice duration. The legislative chamber, which did whatever duvalier wanted, rewrote the 1957 constitution, making a point of changing article 197 so that duvalier could be declared president for life.
After kennedys death in november 1963, pressure on duvalier eased, and the united states adopted a policy of grudging acceptance of the haitian regime because of the countrys strategic location. Francois papa doc duvalier came to power in haiti in 1957 and died in 1971, leaving his son to rule for 15 years. Francois duvalier papa doc was born april, 14th 1907 portauprince, haiti. Francois duvalier papa doc timeline timetoast timelines.
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