Roger Lafontant
Encyclopedia
Roger Lafontant is the former leader of the Tonton Macoutes and the former Minister of dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier
. He was the leader of an attempted coup d'état
on January 1991, in Haiti, an effort which ultimately lead to his death.
and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier.
In 1986, with the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier, he went again into exile to the Dominican Republic.
and the military high command immediately condemned the coup. In a statement to the public, General Abraham spoke on Monday morning, on the mutiny of a group "in the pay of Roger Lafontant" who hijacked the provisional President of the Republic, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
"after forced to resign. " Gen. Abraham said that while "the armed forces of Haiti, faithful to their constitutional responsibilities", condemned the "terrorist act" and "take all steps to ensure that the situation returns to normal." He called "the population to remain calm."
The international community and the Organization of American States condemned the attempt to overthrow the provisional government of Haiti. The day of the coup, the OAS Permanent Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Haiti and decided to support the interim government. Some 75 people were killed and over 150 others were injured in the violence that erupted in Port-au-Prince during the attempted coup. Roger Lafontant was arrested with a dozen accomplices, soldiers, and militia members of the Tontons Macoutes.
Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Bébé Doc" or "Baby Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, as the ruler of Haiti upon his father's death in 1971...
. He was the leader of an attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
on January 1991, in Haiti, an effort which ultimately lead to his death.
Early life
As a medical student studying to become a gynecologist, he founded the student branch of the Tontons Macoutes, which supported dictatorship under President François DuvalierFrançois Duvalier
François Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Duvalier first won acclaim in fighting diseases, earning him the nickname "Papa Doc" . He opposed a military coup d'état in 1950, and was elected President in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform...
and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier.
Duvalier era
In November 1972, he became Minister of the Interior and National Defense Jean-Claude Duvalier was then rejected because of his personal ambitions. Lafontant was then sent as consul in Montreal, Canada. He returned in August 1983, and was appointed Minister of State for the Interior and National Defense.In 1986, with the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier, he went again into exile to the Dominican Republic.
Return to Haiti after exile
He reappeared July 7, 1990, to enter the race for the presidency at the head of the Union for National Reconciliation. Radio Freedom, founded by nostalgic for the Duvalier era, supported the candidacy of Lafontant on AM and FM bands. His candidacy is finally rejected by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). On July 18, 1990, an arrest warrant was issued against him following a court proceeding against him.Attempted coup d'état
During the conduct of democratic elections in Haiti from 1990–1991, Roger Lafontant attempted a coup on the night of January 6th to the 7th 1991. While Roger Lafontant claimed to have the support of the army, General Herard AbrahamHérard Abraham
-Life:Abraham enlisted in the Haïtian army as a young man. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general and became one of the few military members in the inner circle of President Jean-Claude Duvalier. Abraham supported the 1986 coup against Duvalier, and served as foreign minister for the first time...
and the military high command immediately condemned the coup. In a statement to the public, General Abraham spoke on Monday morning, on the mutiny of a group "in the pay of Roger Lafontant" who hijacked the provisional President of the Republic, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
Ertha Pascal-Trouillot was the provisional President of Haiti from 1990 through 1991. She was the first woman in Haitian history to hold that office.-Background:...
"after forced to resign. " Gen. Abraham said that while "the armed forces of Haiti, faithful to their constitutional responsibilities", condemned the "terrorist act" and "take all steps to ensure that the situation returns to normal." He called "the population to remain calm."
The international community and the Organization of American States condemned the attempt to overthrow the provisional government of Haiti. The day of the coup, the OAS Permanent Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Haiti and decided to support the interim government. Some 75 people were killed and over 150 others were injured in the violence that erupted in Port-au-Prince during the attempted coup. Roger Lafontant was arrested with a dozen accomplices, soldiers, and militia members of the Tontons Macoutes.