leopard

Himmler Rebu unsuccessful coup d'etat against Prosper Avril

In april, 1989, Rebels surrendered control of Port-au-Prince's airport. It was later found out that Haiti was once again in a middle of a Coup D'Etat. Lt. Col. Himmler Rebu, commander of the Leopards Battalion, Col. Phillipe Biamby and Col. Leonce Qualo were given safe passage to the United States.

Three army officers who tried to overthrow the country's leader, Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril were arrested but later, they were driven by military escort to the Dominican border on their way to the United States on April 4, 1989. These three officers were Lt. Col. Himmler Rebu (38 years old in 1989), commander of the Leopards Battalion; Col. Phillipe Biamby (36), commander of the presidential guard, and Col. Leonce Qualo (35), an administrative officer at army headquarters. Some loyal soldiers of Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril rescued the Lt. General as he was being driven away to be deported. General Avril's wife, Marie-Ange, and her mother were taken captive during the coup with the general, but were released within an hour. The government freed these three soldiers of the failed coup attempt from prison as it bowed to pressure from the mutinous soldiers who held General Avril's one of the four sons as hostage. These three army officers were associated with Jean-Claude Duvalier before he was deposed in 1986.

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Here is a picture of Corp des Leopard In Haiti, Haiti Military.

During the rule of Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) the Leopard Corps In Haiti was created in 1971 with United States' assistance as a "counter-insurgency" force to provide support with a relatively modern tool for responding to country's internal threats and to balance two powers between the Haitian Armed Forces and the Tonton Macoutes (became the Volontaires de la Securite Nationale or VSN after 1962 with around 9,000 members). However, the Leopards were described by human rights investigators as "particularly brutal in dealing with civilians" (its activities were often suppressed). Some of Haiti's subsequent paramilitary leaders got their start in the Leopard's camouflage outfit. James Byers, the CEO of Miami based Aerotrade who was in charge to train the leopards, had later admitted before camera in mid 1980's, that Aerotrade did this under CIA contract. The force, consisting 700 members, was Duvalier's a personal security force where the participating members required a higher education level to join. 'Corps des Léopards' was disbanded within a month of an attempted coup in 1989.

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Here is a picture to remind you of Haitian Military Leopard Corp during Jean Claude Duvalier reign.

Haitian Military Leopard Corp in Jean Claude Duvalier Reign

In 1973, the former Haitian Dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier ("Baby Doc") created 'Leopards' (Corps des Léopards) a personal security force and counterinsurgency unit. The Leopards counterinsurgency unit was created with the U.S support; its participating members required a higher education level to join. With its creation, it took over most of the functions of Haiti's police force. The Leopard Corps consisting 700-members, a tactical unit was based on the outskirts of the capital in Pétion-ville; it was equipped with relatively modern tool for responding to internal threats. Its counterinsurgency functions were often suppressed. Baby Doc created 'Corps des Léopards' in an attempt to balance two powers between the Haitian Armed Forces and the Tonton Macoutes (became the Volontaires de la Securite Nationale or VSN after 1962). However, 'Corps des Léopards' was disbanded within a month of an attempted coup in 1989.

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Here is a picture of Jean-Claude Duvalier dressed in his military or combart uniform. He was accompagned by his wife Michele Bennett. Jean-Claude Duvalier married Michele Bennett Pasquet, - Michele Bennett first husband: Alix Pasquet

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