Louis-Jodel Chamblain
Encyclopedia
Louis-Jodel Chamblain is a military leader in Haïti
who has led both government troops and rebels, and is considered a notorious war criminal.
Chamblain first emerged as a notorious figure as a sergeant within the transitional military junta
running Haïti following the collapse of Jean-Claude Duvalier
's dictatorship in 1986. In 1987, Chamblain allegedly headed government death squad
s that attacked voters at the Haitian presidential election, 1987
, causing it to be cancelled; the election was to permit transition to civilian rule.
Civilian elections did take place in 1990 (Haitian general election, 1990–1991), in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide
was elected, but the 1991 Haitian coup d'état
, in which Chamblain was involved, overthrew Aristide just eight months later. Immediately following the coup, Chamblain's reputation for brutality grew further as he is reported to have been responsible for thousands of murders of Aristide followers.
Chamblain was second-in-command of a paramilitary organization, the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti
(FRAPH), founded in August 1993 as tensions grew between supporters of Aristide's reinstatement and supporters of the military government. With the end of the military regime and restoration of Aristide (following the U.S.
Operation Uphold Democracy
intervention) in 1994, Chamblain went into exile in the Dominican Republic
. He was convicted in absentia for his involvement in the murder of Antoine Izméry
, a well-known pro-democracy activist, and for his involvement in the Raboteau Massacre.
In February 2004, Chamblain returned from exile to take part in a new rebellion against Aristide. Shortly after his return, he captured the central city of Hinche
from the Haitian police with a force of 50 men.
Following Chamblain's return and the collapse of Aristide's government in 2004, Amnesty International
called for UN
peacekeepers
to arrest Chamblain for his alleged participation in various war crimes in 1987, 1991, and 1993-1994. In April 2004, he turned himself in to face a retrial in the case of Izméry's murder and was acquitted; he was eventually released from prison in August 2005.
Chamberlain appeared together with Jean-Claude Duvalier
as his chief-of-security aon Duvalier's return from exile on 16 January 2011.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
who has led both government troops and rebels, and is considered a notorious war criminal.
Chamblain first emerged as a notorious figure as a sergeant within the transitional military junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
running Haïti following the collapse of Jean-Claude Duvalier
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...
's dictatorship in 1986. In 1987, Chamblain allegedly headed government death squad
Death squad
A death squad is an armed military, police, insurgent, or terrorist squad that conducts extrajudicial killings, assassinations, and forced disappearances of persons as part of a war, insurgency or terror campaign...
s that attacked voters at the Haitian presidential election, 1987
Haitian presidential election, 1987
The 1987 Haitian presidential election took place on 29 November 1987. The election was cancelled after troops led by Service d'Intelligence National member Col Jean Claude Paul massacred 30 - 300 voters on election day. Jimmy Carter later wrote that "Citizens who lined up to vote were mowed down...
, causing it to be cancelled; the election was to permit transition to civilian rule.
Civilian elections did take place in 1990 (Haitian general election, 1990–1991), in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide is a Haitian former Catholic priest and politician who served as Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies...
was elected, but the 1991 Haitian coup d'état
1991 Haitian coup d'état
The 1991 Haitian coup d'état took place on 29 September 1991 when President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, elected 8 months earlier in the Haitian general election, 1990–1991, was deposed by the Haitian army. The coup was led by Army General Raoul Cédras, Army Chief of Staff Phillipe Biamby and Chief of...
, in which Chamblain was involved, overthrew Aristide just eight months later. Immediately following the coup, Chamblain's reputation for brutality grew further as he is reported to have been responsible for thousands of murders of Aristide followers.
Chamblain was second-in-command of a paramilitary organization, the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti
Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti
The Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti was a far-rightparamilitary group organized in mid-1993. Its goal was to undermine support for the popular Catholic priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who served less than eight months as Haïti's president before being deposed, on 29 September 1991,...
(FRAPH), founded in August 1993 as tensions grew between supporters of Aristide's reinstatement and supporters of the military government. With the end of the military regime and restoration of Aristide (following the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
intervention) in 1994, Chamblain went into exile in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He was convicted in absentia for his involvement in the murder of Antoine Izméry
Antoine Izméry
Antoine Izméry was a Haïtian businessman and pro-democracy activist.-Career:Izméry, who was of Palestinian descent, was among the wealthiest people in Haïti. He was one of the most prominent backers of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and helped finance his election campaign...
, a well-known pro-democracy activist, and for his involvement in the Raboteau Massacre.
In February 2004, Chamblain returned from exile to take part in a new rebellion against Aristide. Shortly after his return, he captured the central city of Hinche
Hinche
Hinche is a city in central Haiti. It has a population of about 50,000. It is the capital of Centre department. Hinche is the hometown of Charlemagne Péralte, the Haitian nationalist leader who resisted the United States occupation of Haïti .-Culture:The majority of the population are of African...
from the Haitian police with a force of 50 men.
Following Chamblain's return and the collapse of Aristide's government in 2004, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
called for UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
to arrest Chamblain for his alleged participation in various war crimes in 1987, 1991, and 1993-1994. In April 2004, he turned himself in to face a retrial in the case of Izméry's murder and was acquitted; he was eventually released from prison in August 2005.
Chamberlain appeared together with Jean-Claude Duvalier
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...
as his chief-of-security aon Duvalier's return from exile on 16 January 2011.
External links
- Haiti Background: Louis Jodel Chamblain