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The
Chronicle is developed
on the web as a virtual monument to memorialize the
thousands of forgotten victims of the Duvaliers. The
story of these victims is a matter of record that underscores
the value of their lives and their untimely deaths.
We need to document those events for posterity, so that
future generations can learn about their history.
Those
of us who witnessed and survived the repressive machine
of the Duvaliers' dictatorship have a moral obligation
to first immortalize the victims, then to erect in their
honor a living memorial, similar to those dedicated
to the Holocaust and war veterans throughout the world.
Fort-Dimanche, the physical site and symbol of the horrors
of that repressive era, was ironically destroyed in
1994-1995 under the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide,
instead of being transformed into a museum, as expected.
With
your collaboration this project will no longer be a
dream; it will be a reality. Please send us names, photos
and information on all known victims of the years 1957-1986. |
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| The
chronicle recognizes
the thousands of individuals who, under the regime of
both Duvaliers, were unjustifiably stripped of their undeniable
rights and/or deprived unreasonably of their civil liberties.
Many of these victims were incarcerated and subjected
to physical and mental torture without cause or due process.
Many others were forced into exile and a great number
disappeared, were killed in Fort- |
Dimanche
or elsewhere, or died as a direct consequence of the terrors
of this oppresive regime. Among them, you will find the
names of many well-known individuals who ironically fell
prey to the horrors of the Duvalier era, despite their
initial involvement or affiliation with the masterminds
or architects of the same regime that eventually crushed
them. Nonetheless, they were victims as well. |
| "PA
BLIE" (Don't Forget): The Forgotten Organization
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On
April 26, 1986, 2 months after the the downfall of Jean-Claude
Duvalier, a group of concerned citizens organized a march
that ended in front of Fort Dimanche to honor and pay
respect to the thousands who perished there. Family members
of thousands of victims peacefully demanded that the Fort
be turned over to the people and converted into a museum
or memorial. The Army opened fire and killed Fred Coriolan,
an active member of the group. n May 1987, after months
of discusion, more than 50 survivors of the regime signed
the by-laws of an organization called "Pa Blié"
for the purpose of documenting the atrocities of the Duvalier
regime. Their slogan "Bay kou blie, pote mak songe"
characterized their threefold mission of
1) establishing a museum;
2) developing a park where each tree would be dedicated
to a specific victim; and
3) enact into law April 26 as the " Haitian Anti-Repression
Day."
"Pa blie" collected hundreds of historical photographs
and artifacts related to this repressive era and shared
them with the public at several exhibits. This movement
has been silent in recent past and unfortunately no apparent
effort is being made to give the victims their earned
legacy.It
is our hope that this chronicle, though virtual, will
revive their efforts and serve as a fitting steppingstone
to an actual memorial that the victims so deserve.
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| What
almost was… |
Fort
Dimanche soon to become a museum…
On
January 31, 1991, the newly elected mayor of Port-au-Prince,
Evans Paul announced in a press conference that Fort Dimanche,
the symbol of repression and torture of the Duvalier regime,
will be transformed into a museum. It was at that infamous
dungeon that most political opponents to the regime were
incacerated. Mayor Evans Paul announced that all instruments
of torture will be put in display to better educate our
future generations of such horrors. |
Fort-Dimanche
- what remains today… |
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