caribbean360
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Friday September 23, 2011 – Amnesty International says political will is needed from Haiti's new administration to bring former President Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier to justice for human rights abuses committed under his regime.
Special Advisor Javier Zúñiga told a media conference here on Thursday that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Duvalier for the widespread arbitrary detentions, torture, deaths in custody, killings and disappearances that took place during his 1971 and 1986 rule.
As the report was being released at a media conference, dozens of pro-Duvalier supporters marched in, accusing the organization of divisiveness and lacking credibility.
The human rights group had provided Port-au-Prince's Public Prosecutor with documented evidence of human rights abuses committed during the former president’s rule, following his return to Haiti in January this year, after 25 years in exile in France.
Duvalier has been indicted by Haitian authorities for embezzlement, theft of public funds and crimes against humanity committed during his presidency.
"The cases of human rights abuses we documented in Haiti are likely to be only a small proportion of what really happened during Duvalier's rule. We will probably never know the true extent of the horror, but carrying out effective investigations will go a long way towards delivering justice," Zúñiga stated.
"Investigating crimes against humanity after Duvalier's return is not only the first step towards justice and reparation for the victims of human rights violations, but it is also a historical opportunity to start building a Haitian state that once and for all protects and upholds human rights in Haiti."
caribbean360
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Showing posts with label crimes against humanity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crimes against humanity. Show all posts
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Haiti Needs Help To Prosecute Duvalier
News Americas, Washington, D.C.
Haiti’s justice minister says the country will need help from international judges to prosecute former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.
Andre Antoine told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights this week that Haiti’s judges and prosecutors lack the training and experience necessary to handle a case of crimes against humanity, such as Duvalier is accused of committing during his reign more than 25 years ago.
“We recognize that our justice system is weak and needs to be reinforced,” said Antoine. “The magistrates are players in this game, it is like a football match: if they don’t have a good manager, it will be difficult to win.”
Antoine added that prosecution of Duvalier for human rights violations was of international importance.
“It is not only a Haitian matter, because convicting Duvalier would send a psychological message to humanity, to all the dictators or to those who are tempted by power (that) the law will not pardon them, that punishments await them,” he said.
Meanwhile, former justice minister Jean-Joseph Exume told the commission that 16 individual cases had been filed against Duvalier in the court system starting immediately after his January 16 return to the country from 25 years of exile.
The comments come as Duvalier was released from a Port-Au-Prince hospital where he had been hospitalized since last week.
Thurs. Mar. 31, 2011
newsamericasnow
Haiti’s justice minister says the country will need help from international judges to prosecute former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.
Andre Antoine told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights this week that Haiti’s judges and prosecutors lack the training and experience necessary to handle a case of crimes against humanity, such as Duvalier is accused of committing during his reign more than 25 years ago.
“We recognize that our justice system is weak and needs to be reinforced,” said Antoine. “The magistrates are players in this game, it is like a football match: if they don’t have a good manager, it will be difficult to win.”
Antoine added that prosecution of Duvalier for human rights violations was of international importance.
“It is not only a Haitian matter, because convicting Duvalier would send a psychological message to humanity, to all the dictators or to those who are tempted by power (that) the law will not pardon them, that punishments await them,” he said.
Meanwhile, former justice minister Jean-Joseph Exume told the commission that 16 individual cases had been filed against Duvalier in the court system starting immediately after his January 16 return to the country from 25 years of exile.
The comments come as Duvalier was released from a Port-Au-Prince hospital where he had been hospitalized since last week.
Thurs. Mar. 31, 2011
newsamericasnow
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