Death of U.S.-Backed Ex-Dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier Won’t End Haitian Victims' Quest for Justice

http://democracynow.org - The former U.S.-backed dictator of Haiti, Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as "Baby Doc," has died at 63. Duvalier ruled Haiti from 1971 to 1986, taking power after the death of his father who had ruled since 1957. Baby Doc's death came just months after a Haitian court ruled that he could be charged with crimes against humanity under international law, and that he could also be held responsible for abuses by the army and paramilitary forces under his rule. Under his regime, hundreds of political prisoners held in a network of prisons died from their extraordinarily cruel treatment. Baby Doc's government repeatedly closed independent newspapers and radio stations. Journalists were beaten, in some cases tortured, jailed and forced to leave the country. Despite his human rights record, Baby Doc was a close ally of the United States. After years of exile in France, he returned to Haiti in 2011 and became an ally of Haiti's current president Michel Martelly. We are joined by Haitian activist and writer Jean Saint-Vil and journalist Amy Wilentz, author of "The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier."

This video is an excerpt of the segment. Watch the full 25-minute discussion on Democracy Now! in our archive: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/10/6...

Take a moment to watch all of the Democracy Now! reports about the political situation in Haiti in our archive: http://www.democracynow.org/topics/haiti

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