By Clancy Nolan
On Sunday evening, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier arrived unannounced at the Port-au-Prince airport after 25 years in exile, on what was to be the date of Haiti’s now-delayed presidential run-off election. Yesterday, Haitian authorities carted the 59 year-old ex-dictator out of a Petionville hotel, charging the former president with corruption and other crimes committed during his 15-year reign, which ended in 1986.
For the past two days, Duvalier had stayed shuttered inside the plush Karibe Hotel, the iron gates to the lobby heavily chained. He received old friends from his days as president, but made no formal statement about why he returned to Haiti.
Police arrived at the hotel in riot gear Tuesday morning, and UN peacekeeping troops stood by as Duvalier was escorted down three flights of stairs in the front of the hotel. Clutching the hand of his girlfriend Veronique Roy, a frail-looking Duvalier paused to wave to journalists and supporters. He was then taken out through the back of the hotel and driven away in a dark SUV.
Port-au-Prince chief prosecutor Aristidas Auguste said that Duvalier’s case will now be sent to an investigating judge, who will determine whether to go forward with the prosecution. Duvalier supporters — many in their late 40s and 50s — gathered outside the downtown judicial building where Duvalier was held. Some clutched fading photos of a young Baby Doc. Other set fire to a pile of car tires. Duvalier was freed in the early evening and returned to his hotel, but told to remain in Haiti.
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Henry Robert Sterlin, the former Haitian ambassador to France answered questions outside the Karibe Hotel on Tuesday. He said Duvalier would cooperate with the Haitian government. "We are actually assisting to a very great moment in both Haitian and international history in the Caribbean," Sterlin said.
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Petionville police commissioner Vanel Lacroix entered the Karibe Hotel Tuesday, flanked by officers in riot gear.
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Duvalier was ushered out of the hotel by heavily armed officers. He was held for several hours at a Port-au-Prince judicial building before returning to the Karibe Hotel.
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Jean-Claude Duvalier held the hand of his girlfriend, Veronique Roy, as he left the hotel.
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Duvalier supporters filled the street in front of the prosecutor's office Tuesday afternoon, chanting, "Free Duvalier! Arrest Préval!" — a reference to René Préval, the current President of Haiti.
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Duvalier supporters clutched fading photographs and other paraphernalia from Duvalier's reign, which spanned from 1971 to 1986.
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Tires burned in the street outside the Port-au-Prince judicial building where authorities questioned Duvalier.
Clancy Nolan is a freelance journalist.
[Photos: Clancy Nolan]