Word: juntas
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...just the election bloodbath that outraged Haitians and international observers. Hours after civilian election officials halted the polling in hopes of curbing the violence, Lieut. General Henri Namphy, head of the military-dominated junta, dissolved the independent nine-member electoral council. Haitians and diplomats alike denounced the move as a "coup d'etat against the constitution."Council members refused to step down, labeling Namphy's move an "act of high treason" and declaring void any elections that the government organizes in the future. At least one presidential candidate demanded that the junta step down...
There was much confusion as to who was behind the violence. Eyewitness reports cited the dreaded Tonton Macoutes, the paramilitary force employed by the Duvaliers and officially disbanded by the Namphy junta, though never disarmed. Last week several well-known henchmen had come out of hiding, and were walking the streets again in broad daylight. "The return of the Tonton Macoutes is total," said a Haitian journalist...
Despite the hopes of Americans and Haitians alike, Namphy's junta never demonstrated a commitment to fair elections. As early as last June, Namphy attempted to wrest control of the voting process from the electoral council. Ensuing protests forced the general to back down, but not before soldiers had shot 30 Haitians dead. Two months later a presidential candidate was hacked to death by machete. In October a second candidate was shot fatally. In neither instance was an investigation publicly ordered. Last month the electoral council, citing the new constitution's ten-year ban on Duvalierists seeking public office, disqualified...
...government response was limp. Making no effort to calm the populace, Namphy pledged to install a new President by the constitutionally mandated deadline of Feb. 7. The junta gave the same eight groups that selected the last electoral council 72 hours to name a new body to oversee balloting procedures. But after Catholic bishops and human-rights groups refused to participate, the junta announced plans to set up its own council. Given the government's anger that Duvalierists were banned from running this time, many Haitians expect the junta to finesse the rules so that they can stand...
...Bannai, Jill Hutchinson, Maisha Moses, Sandy Junta and Valerie Nellen are all freshmen capable of scoring points in several events, especially the sprint freestyle races. In addition, Fiona Fox should give Harvard even more depth in a solid corps of backstrokers...