tonton macoute

Luckner James Cambronne, born Arcahaie, Haiti 1929, former leader of the dreaded Tonton Macoute militiamen. He was the second most feared man in Haiti during the dictatorship of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier.

Luckner James Cambronne was widely known as "The Vampire of the Caribbean" for his business of transporting Haitian blood and cadavers to US Hospitals, Medical schools and other foreign hospitals for huge profit.

Luckner Cambronne (30 October 1930 - 24 September 2006) was a high profile Haitian politician who rose to the number two position in power during François Duvalier's regime in Haiti. Luckner, the son of a poor preacher had a career as a bank teller, but his alliance with François Duvalier brought him to the powerful political arena where he started out his political career as a messenger for Duvalier, and to finally become second in command and head of his fearsome private militia popularly known as the Tonton Macoutes throughout the 1960's and the beginning of the 1970's. Duvalier created the militia because he felt threatened by the Haitian army. During their reign of terror, the group slaughtered more than 600,000 Haitians.

Luckner's unique brand of cruelty enabled him to become very rich and earned him the nickname "Vampire of the Caribbean." He was named 'Vampire' because of his lucrative practice of selling corpses and blood of Haitians to US and other foreign hospitals at a huge profit. His brutality was incomparable. Luckner never hesitated to kill innocent people for the growth of his business. He used to buy Haitian cadavers from the General Hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince, for 15 gourdes ($3) a piece to sell them to American medical schools. This made many unfortunate mourners to find their loved one's coffins mysteriously empty. In some cases, it was found that the exported bodies were still alive and they were shipped for high value, resulting in huge profits.

Tonton Macoutes" had a cruel practice of frequent random executions; they often stoned and burned people alive. After the death of François Duvalier in 1971, Cambronne was said to oppose Papa Doc's nomination of his 19-year-old son Jean-Claude Duvalier as successor, but Jean-Claude's mother, Simone Duvalier, outmaneuvered Cambronne and insisted on his exile. Lastly, Cambronne moved to Miami, Florida, in 1972 where he died on 24 September 2006.

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Here are some of the statements made during a speech given by former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide on September 27, 1991. Do you think that the speech promotes violence and the use of Pè Lebrun by the Haitian population?

Aristide was without equal when it comes to popularity among the people. He won the nation's first democratic election in December 1990 with 67% votes. However, he was caught between plots by the Duvalierists with country's wealthy elites. On Friday, September 27 1991, he delivered a speech, activating the common people against the wealthy elites and power mongers of the country. This speech is famously known as "Aristide's Famous Pe Lebrun Speech" and as a consequence, on September 29, 1991, Aristide was overthrown, just two days after delivering the speech. In every protest in Haiti, the protesters often burn tires. Pere Lebrun was the name of a former tire manufacturer and a major retailer of automobile tires in Haiti. 'Pe leburn' is a nickname of burning tires. In his eight months in president's office, Aristide alienated many civil servants, attempted to undermine the country's military forces and challenged the authority responsible to draft the constitution. He publicly distinguished the elites between patriotic elite and the 'patripoch' (pocket-stuffing) elite.

Aristide's supporters, following the historic speech on September 27, intimidated the news media that Aristide would legitimize his speech. He would place burning tires around the necks of the suspected opponents and burn them to death. However, very few historians have had the opportunity to hear and understand this historic speech live on September 27th which is often considered as his best speech delivered so far. It is a fact that there is no proof anywhere that suggests Aristide's policy was to urge people to burn people. Rather, when he came to power in 1991, unlike his predecessors, he tried to bring more issues and people under the rule of law. There are many Haitians who think that Aristide was unfairly treated. He was demonized by wealthy Haitians who own 90% of Haiti's wealth and act as overseers for empire. Aristide denounced the evil schemes of these imperialists and their agents in the Haitian oligarchy.

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The Haitian Government has decided to dedicate a National Day of Remembrance for the victims of Fort Dimanche.

Fort Dimanche's Unsavory Past Remembered

The Ministry of Communication announced April 26th 2015 as a National Day of Remembrance for the victims incarcerated at Fort Dimanche.

Fort Dimanche, a brutal prison, where inmates were subject to claustrophobic conditions, tortured, sexually assaulted, and other wise dehumanized, was used during Francois Duvalier's regime for any Haitian, who dared to criticize his policies.

The prison served as a place for political dissenters for over 30 years. In 1987 it was turned into a memorial.

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Do you know who are in this picture? I just want some old time Haitians from Cap-Haitien to give me the answer.

These people were at one time the the city of Cap-Haitian itself. Many of the new generation probably do not have a clue. I remember those days like yesterday. Although many of them install a notion of fair among the populations. However some how, in some twisted way, they helped to maintain order

Mwin pa konnin kombyen nan nou ki kapab di mwin non moun sa yo ki nan foto sa. Min, anpil vyero nan vill Cap-Haitien konnin moun sa yo tres byen. A on moman, moun sa yo te sel kok chante nan vill sa.

Si ou kapab sonje non kek nan yo, di nou?

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The former Haitian dictator Jean Claude Duvalier is dead. He passed away on October 3, 2014. He was 63 years old.

The Haitian President, Michel Martelly stated that he was "saddened" by the death of the former Haitian President Jean Claude Duvalier. He took the opportunity to send his condolences to the family, relatives, friends and supporters across the country

Was Jean-Claude Duvalier as Murderous as Francois?

Ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, who died of a heart attack, came to power after his father Francois' death. Jean-Claude was an oppressive ruler like Francois, which led to Jean-Claude's overthrow in 1986.

He lived in France for the next 25 years, wanting to return to Haiti. Finally President Preval gave his approval, but Jean-Claude would have to face justice for his crimes against humanity. He returned in 2011 and appeared in court, but there was not enough of a case against him.

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Here is a picture of the former candidate for the presidential election of Haiti. Mr. Gerard Gourgue Gourgue. He is a politician , lawyer , activist for human rights, minister, ambassador and teacher.

He studied at the Lycée Alexandre Pétion in Port-au-Prince, then university in Haiti and France. In 1978, in order to fight the abuses of the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier and his Tontons Macoutes , Gourgue established the Haitian Human Rights League.
Gerard Gourgue was named to be part of the National Council of Government (CNG) following the exile of Jean Claude Duvalier. However, within a Month, he had to resign headed by Henri Namphy due to differences

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Here is a picture of Luc Désir who was chief of Francois Duvalier's Secret Police.

After the fall of Duvalier, Luc Désir was brought to Haitian justice. He was charged for his crimes such as torture and killings and sentenced to life in prison. However, under President Prosper Avril, Luc Désir and 13 other people who had been convicted were given a reduced sentence. And to finish the entire ordeal, when General Raoul Cedras came into power, Luc Desir was released from prison

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The St Jean Bosco massacre was one of the worst cases of abuse following the exile of the government of Jean Claude Duvalier to France. The Massacre took place on 11 September 1988. It was reported that more than 13 people were murdered and over 80 people wounded. The Saint-Jean Bosco church in Port-au-Prince was the parish of father Jean-Bertrand Aristide who would become the president of Haiti.

On that day, the Saint-Jean Bosco church had over 1000 people for Sunday mass. Report had indicated that the massacre was carried out by unidentified armed men. Jean-Bertrand Aristide was evacuated from the church unharmed.

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This is one date that will likely remain in the history of the town of Casale for the history book. On March 29, 1969, sources primarily from the residents of Casale reporte that the forces of the Duvalier regime conducted mass killing in the region. It was done in the objective to eradicate the communist movement that was taking shape in the town. This monument was built to honor some of those who were subject of the massacre

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This is a celebration of Haiti Flag back in the 1960s.

Former minister of health and labor François Duvalier, known as "Papa Doc" became the president of Haiti

He was president of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971.

Francois Duvalier was able to remain in power until his death by enlisting an organization known as Tontons Macoutes, also known as "Bogeymen". Tonton Macoutes were responsible to maintain order by terrorizing the populace.

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