As a judge summons former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier to appear in court on Thursday after defying previous orders, a special advisor with the international human rights group, Amnesty International, is expressing concern about Haiti’s judicial system.
“In Haiti, where the judiciary still suffers from structural deficiencies inherited from the dictatorship years, bringing former President Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier to justice over his alleged responsibility for crimes, such as torture, killings and disappearances during his time in office is proving particularly challenging,” said Javier Zúñiga.
He said the former leader showed contempt for the justice system and victims by failing to appear at two previous hearings for his alleged involvement in those crimes.
Magistrate Jean Joseph Lebrun has since issued a summons for him to appear in court this week to determine whether Duvalier should again face charges for human rights abuses committed during the nearly 15 years of his brutal regime.
Zúñiga said the backdrop to the case “sees Haitian authorities showing little real interest in pressing for Duvalier to be held accountable for his actions”.
He pointed to several public statements in which President Michel Martelly has hinted at pardoning Duvalier and said the former Haitian leader has continued to take part in public events, “despite having being placed under house arrest while charges against him are investigated.
“Just as troubling, Duvalier was recently granted a diplomatic passport, a further sign that other powers of the state are inclined to ensure impunity from prosecution for the former dictator.
“This is despite the fact that there seems sufficient evidence to prosecute Duvalier for widespread arbitrary detentions, torture, deaths in custody, killings and disappearances that took place under his regime,” he added.
