How Haiti's Voodoo-obsessed 'Papa Doc' would stick pins in effigies of his enemies and kept frozen head of executed rebel leader during his 14-year rule, as island descends into chaos again
- Francois Duvalier - 'Papa Doc' - took power in September 1957
- He ruled until his death in 1971, after which his son Baby Doc took power
It began with a rigged election and a promise to end the repression of Haiti's black population.
But it didn't take long for Francois Duvalier - the bespectacled doctor who took up the reins of power in September 1957 - to show his darker side.
The voodoo-obsessed leader would stick pins in effigies of his enemies and kept the frozen head of one executed rebel leader so he could commune with his spirit.
By the time 'Papa Doc' passed away in 1971, tens of thousands Hatians had died at his hands.
Now, Haiti is struggling once again as a result of the brazen actions of gang leader Jimmy Cherizier - known by the nickname Barbecue.
Armed gangs have helped thousands of inmates break out of a prison in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, as Cherizier pledged to oust the country's acting prime minister Ariel Henry.
It began with a rigged election and a promise to end the repression of Haiti's black population. But it didn't take long for Francois Duvalier (above) - the bespectacled doctor who took up the reins of power in September 1957 - to show his darker side
Papa Doc modelled himself on a spiritual figure named Baron Samedi, a deity in Haiti's national religion of voodoo.
Samedi is depicted with eerie skeleton make-up, a black tuxedo and white top-hat and speaks in a strange, nasal voice.
Papa Doc adopted the mystical icon's love of rum and debauchery and also satisfied his exotic sexual fantasies with any Haitian of his choice.
This was despite the fact that he was married to a merchant's daughter, Simone Ovide. The couple had four children together.
Papa Doc used the feared Tonton Macoutes to strike fear into his opponents. The group, who were more powerful than the army and police, were allowed to plunder at will.
Alleged enemies of the state would be snatched away to be tortured in the dungeons of Haiti's Fort Dimanche.
When Papa Doc discovered that the leader of the Tonton Macoutes, Clement Barbot, was plotting to topple him, he had him imprisoned.
When Barbot escaped, Papa Doc was told he had turned himself into a black dog to evade capture. This prompted the maniacal Haitian leader to order his men to kill every black dog in Haiti.
Now, Haiti is struggling once again as a result of the brazen actions of gang leader Jimmy Cherizier - known by the nickname Barbecue. Above: Cherizier (centre) in 2021
An armed member of the Tonton Macoute (the Haitian militia) controls crowds in the streets of Port-au-Prince, circa 1980
Papa Doc (right) is seen with journalist Alan Whicker and Rosalie Adolphe, the leader of the Tonton Macoute
The Duvaliers also secretly siphoned tens of millions of dollars into foreign banks.
The Macoute were ordered to kidnap thousands of people and sell them into forced labour on sugar plantations across the border in the Dominican Republic.
For each worker, they would pocket a few dollars in commission.
Haitians were also encouraged to give blood in the spirit of patriotism. But because the same needle was used repeatedly, the practice sparked an Aids epidemic.
The organs of executed prisoners were even marketed for transplants.
When Pope John Paul II visited the island in 1983, he announced that 'things must change here'.
Three years later, with the island in the grip of a revolution, avenging Haitians armed with machetes hunted down the fleeing Tonton Macoutes.
Now, gang leader Cherizier has claimed responsibility for the latest wave of violence to grip the country.
The former elite police officer is the boss of a feared federation of gangs called the 'G-9 Family and Allies', formed around 2020 and better armed than the country's official police force.
Cherizier describes his men as a 'revolutionary force' which aims to wipe out the bourgeoisie and improve conditions for the poor, but his reign of violence has seen mass killings in some of Haiti's most poverty-stricken areas.
He said he takes his inspiration from Papa Doc, who ruled Haiti with a bloody brutality as 'president for life' from 1957 to 1971.
He denied that he got the nickname Barbecue for setting his rivals on fire.
A demonstrator holds up the flag of Haiti during protests
Gang violence in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince
Thousands of inmates have broken out of a prison in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, as armed gangs stormed the city.
A burnt car outside the city's National Penitentiary prison, where thousands of inmates escaped due to help from the gangs
Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti's power company after it was targeted by rioters. Several fire stations have been burned down.
Inmates wave their hands out of the windows of the prison that armed gangs stormed overnight
Heavily armed gangs roam the streets.
Police unions called on all officers to help regain control of the prisons
The National Police Syndicate of Haiti, posted on X that if efforts to contain the escape of inmates were unsuccesful than 'we are done for'.
It added there are more than 5000 extra criminals on the loose, and urged all officers to assist in regaining control of the prison.
The UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise against all travel to Haiti.
The US embassy said it was halting all official travel to the country. It urged all American citizens to depart as soon as possible.
Flights were suspended at the capital's Toussaint Louverture International Airport amid gunfire, while several fire stations across the city have since been burnt down.
Civilians fled gunfire while authorities clashed with armed gangs
Pedestrians walk past a soldier guarding the international airport that is under attack by criminal gangs in Port-au-Prince
Soldiers guarding the international airport
The criminal gangs are led by Jimmy Cherizier, a former elite police officer known as Barbecue, who now runs the gang federation.
He said their goal is to capture Haiti’s police chief and government ministers. Control of the airport is a key part of their plan. Armed gang members have overrun the two biggest prisons and freed more than 5000 inmates.
Gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherisier and his men are seen in Port-au-Prince, Barbecue is leading the attacks on the airport
Masked members of "G9 and Family" gang who are part of the recent attacks
Gangs already are estimated to control 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince. They are coordinating their actions and choosing once unthinkable targets such as the Central Bank.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry travelled abroad last week to try to salvage support for a United Nations-backed security force to help stabilize Haiti in its conflict with the increasingly powerful crime groups.
Haiti’s National Police has roughly 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people, according to the UN. They are routinely overwhelmed and outgunned.
Tires on fire near the main prison. Gangs have coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure
The Caribbean country's government declared a state of emergency
Gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, known by the nickname Barbecue
Only around 100 of the National Penitentiary's estimated 3,800 inmates were still inside the facility (pictured)
Haiti's National Penitentiary as seen after the attack by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince
Open cells are seen at Haiti's National Penitentiary after the attack Sunday by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Almost all of the estimated 4,000 inmates escaped the National Penitentiary, leaving the normally overcrowded prison eerily empty with no guards in sight
Haiti's prime minister Ariel Henry has been in Kenya trying to rally support to stabilise his country's dire security situation
No comments:
Post a Comment