PRESIDENT JEAN-CLAUDE Duvlier's hated dictatorship in Haiti is clinging to power by a thread. As we go to press his political police - the Tonton Macoutes proportions, have put his future in severe doubt.
The latest crisis began on Wednesday 29 January when around 40,000 peoto une sreers in Cap-Haitien, the second largest low o une coutry. Observers say the demonstration took on carnival atmosphere improvised struments, songs, denunciations of the government public funds slogans demanding DaDY DOC S departure.
The army staved clear of the demonstration, protecting onlv the barracks anns private radio a tions. Friday 'Baby Doc' • seem to have supJanuary the demonstrations had spread the capital Port-au-Prince and otner towns. Barricades went up Duvalier pronounced state of siege. The border with the Dominican kebuonc was closea.
The same night the US embassy announced: "The government of Haiti has collapsed leaderSilip. 30C UGHS Duvallel, Us, fed ring insure. The ho longer backed bavilonger backed lier. But Baby Doc went on the radio Ic say he was still in power allu 'firm as a monker's tail.
He added that: 'because the wild rumours circulated by good-for-nothings I'm donced Lake the Duvalier was seen PrOOT limousine Port-auPrince. He then television again to say he 'to let the people out of their misery.
few hours later Duvalier announced that the police had arrested the leaders of a militarv coun Haiti has suffered under the US backed Duvalier dictatorship since when Baby Doc's father 'Papa Doc' came to power. Seventy seven per cent of the country's six million people have incomes below $150 a vear. Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas.
smass Socialist Action 7 February 1986
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pressed a pre-emptive military coup. But escalating waves of mass protest, reaching near insurrectionary