Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies
appeased nor intimidated. Demonstrations spread, paralyzing
the whole country.
In January 1986, the Reagan administration began to pressure
Duvalier to leave Haiti, as did Congressman Walter Fauntroy,
chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who had been
interested in Haiti since 1979. The United States refused a
request to provide asylum for Duvalier, but offered to assist
with the dictator's departure. Duvalier had initially accepted
the offer on January 30, but then changed his mind.
On January 31, the United States prematurely announced
Duvalier's departure, and Haitians were overjoyed. Jean-Claude
responded to the demonstration by declaring a state of siege,
dispatching the makout and the army. Despite these threats,
Haitians continued to demonstrate all over the country. On
that same day, the United States Department of State reduced
its US$56 million aid package to Haiti. This action distanced
Washington from the Duvalier regime and denied the regime a
significant source of income. At this point, two leading officers
who had devised a plot to remove the Duvaliers, army chief of
staff Lieutenant General Henri Namphy and Military Academy
head Colonel Williams Regala, confronted the Duvaliers and
demanded their departure. Left with no bases of support, Jean-
Claude agreed.
After hastily naming a National Council of Government
(Conseil National de Gouvernement—CNG), made up of
Namphy, Regala, and three civilians, Jean-Claude and his family,
his entourage, and a caravan of trucks loaded with possessions
departed Haiti on the night of February 7, 1986, aboard a
C-141 transport provided by the United States. Spontaneous
street demonstrations and church masses were held all over
Haiti to celebrate. People felt free. A popular slogan was "the
muzzle is off." Graffiti on walls thanked Radio Soleil, and many
Haitians wore a teeshirt emblazoned on the front with the
newly restored Haitian red and blue flag and the words "Liberation
of Haiti, February 7, 1986", and on the back, "operation
to uproot evil accomplished."
Post-Duvalier Era, 1986-90
The widespread joy and expectations for a new Haiti soon
dimmed. Haitians had hoped to rid the country of Duvalierists
and makout and bring to trial those who had committed crimes.
Instead, a number of high-ranking officers, including the head
of the makout and the former army intelligence chief, managed
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