LatinNews Daily Report - 08 March 2013

JUSTICE | Préval follows Duvalier into court.  Following the appearance in court on 1 March of the former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971-1986) to answer questions on human-rights abuses during his rule, on 7 March it was the turn of former president René Préval  (1996-2001, 2006-2011) to face questioning in court over the murder in April 2000 of the journalist Jean Dominique. The court session lasted for only 30 minutes and was held behind closed doors. Préval and Dominique had been allies in the fight to depose Duvalier, and Dominique’s wife, Michèle Montas, was among those who pushed for Duvalier to face trial after he returned to Haiti two years ago.  When the news came that Préval was to appear in court, Montas commented: “Suddenly pulling the case out of a hat at a time when Jean-Claude Duvalier is expected to be heard by the court is preposterous”.