Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Baby Doc's Return

Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti a couple of days ago, following 25 years in exile. Baby Doc is alleged to have embezzled tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars from Haiti during his corrupt rule. He now faces charges of corruption and embezzlement, but it's questionable whether the fragile Haitian government has the ability or will to prosecute. There are also allegations that his regime tortured and murdered thousands of civilians at the hands of his special security force -- the Tonton Macoute -- during his rule.

Why would Baby Doc return in the first place? MONEY. He's down to his last few millions, and he probably thinks he can beat the charges and find political support for a comeback (he's only 59) in the near-chaos of Haiti. This would allow him to continue the looting that preceded his exile to France. After all, there are now billions in aid money floating around Haiti ripe for Baby Doc's picking.