- Louis-Jodel Chamblain
Louis-Jodel Chamblain (born
1953 or1954 ) is a military leader inHaïti who has led both government troops and rebels, and is considered a notoriouswar criminal by most.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 in1986 . In1987 , Chamblain allegedly headed government death squads that interrupted a planned election that would have marked the transition to civilian rule. In all, 34 voters were killed, and the election was cancelled.Civilian elections did take place in
1990 , in whichJean-Bertrand Aristide was elected, but a militarycoup in which Chamblain was involved overthrew Aristide in1991 . 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. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/29/MNG485ATLK1.DTL]Chamblain formed a paramilitary organization, the
Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti (FRAPH), in1993 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 U.S. intervention) in1994 , Chamblain went into exile in theDominican Republic . He was convicted in absentia for his involvement in the murder ofAntoine Izméry , a well-known pro-democracy activist, and for his involvement in theRaboteau 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 ofHinche 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 UNpeacekeepers to arrest Chamblain for his alleged participation in various war crimes in1987 ,1991 , and1993 -1994 . InApril 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 inAugust 2005 .
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