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29273: Hermantin(News)'Papa Doc' strongman Luckner Cambronne, 77, dies in Miami (fwd)
From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>
Posted on Fri, Sep. 29, 2006
LUCKNER JAMES CAMBRONNE, 77
'Papa Doc' strongman Luckner Cambronne, 77, dies in Miami
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
jcharles@MiamiHerald.com
Exiled 'Papa Doc' strongman plotted return
He was one of the most feared men in Haiti, a reigning symbol of Duvalierism
who eventually fell victim to Haiti's turbulent politics before he, too, was
forced to pack his bags and flee.
But even in exile, Luckner James Cambronne never gave up on returning to Haiti
and the pinnacle of power he lavishly enjoyed during the 14-year dictatorship
of Francois ''Papa Doc'' Duvalier.
Cambronne died Sunday at Baptist Hospital of pneumonia following a three-year
bout with kidney disease and diabetes. He was 77.
''He watched every occasion in Haiti, always trying to put something on
track,'' said longtime friend and author, Anthony Georges-Pierre. ``Luckner was
a cornerstone, and many people will find themselves missing a wing.''
For Duvalierists -- borne out of Haiti's 1946 revolutionary movement aimed at
having the black middle-class seize power -- Cambronne will be missed. Among
the last of an aging breed, he routinely held strategy meetings at his South
Miami-Dade home focused, at first, on returning himself and Jean-Claude ''Baby
Doc'' Duvalier to power. Later, they were focused on others to lead.
CHIEF `MACOUTE'
Cambronne was a ''Duvalierist,'' a devoted disciple of the country doctor who
in 1964 declared himself Haiti's President-for-Life, and engineered a 29-year
family dictatorship. Upon Papa Doc's death in 1971, Cambronne played a pivotal
role in the transition of power from father to son.
A poor preacher's son, Cambronne went from bank teller to presidential
confidante and power broker. He developed a reputation as Papa Doc's chief
extortionist, or head ''Macoute'' who, wearing dark glasses, shook down and
jailed Haitian businessmen. The funds were to be used to build public projects,
but critics say they were used to line Cambronne's and Duvalier's pockets.
''He was into everything,'' Bernard Diederich told The Miami Herald. Diederich,
who lives in Miami, penned the book Papa Doc and wrote about Cambronne's
December 1972 exile from Haiti for Time Magazine in the article, ``The Fall of
a Shark.''
After Papa Doc's death, Cambronne was known as ''Vampire of the Caribbean,''
for his program of supplying Haitian cadavers to U.S. medical schools, and
selling Haitian blood at a profit.
''He was not a bad guy,'' said Georges-Pierre, noting that both schemes were
legal. ``He was misunderstood.''
Georges-Pierre, who devoted several passages to Cambronne in the biography,
Francois Duvalier: Titan or Tyrant, said Cambronne was loyal and ''a valiant
servant'' who did a lot to help Haiti. As minister of public works, he
introduced a toll system, which allowed the government to build roads, schools
and airports.
Accused of stealing millions of dollars from Haitian government coffers,
Cambronne, who was born in the coastal town of Arcahaie outside of
Port-au-Prince, told The Miami Herald in 1989 that he was not a bagman.
''They say I have millions and millions of dollars, but it's not true. I am not
a millionaire,'' said Cambronne, who ran a coffee business in Miami. ``I am a
Duvalierist for life. If you call a partisan of Jean-Claude Duvalier a Tonton
Macoute, then, yes, I am a Macoute.''
LOYAL FAMILY MAN
Nadine Patrice, Cambronne's daughter and a Haitian-American activist, said a
lot of ''misinformation'' has been written about her father.
''As a family man, he was really great,'' she said. ``He is a very loyal person
and dedicated. If he tells you he's going to do this, he's going to do this.
He's a person of action. Passionate and very loyal.''
He was also forgiving.
Several years ago, he and his wife took in Marie Denise Duvalier, the broke and
divorced sister of Baby Doc. She and her ex-husband Max Dominique have long
been accused of orchestrating Cambronne's exile during a power struggle with
Baby Doc. It is said it was payback against Cambronne, who months earlier had
allegedly convinced Baby Doc to oust his sister and brother-in-law. Marie
Denise Duvalier, who still lives with the Cambronne family, declined to be
interviewed.
''His love for his friends and his family is deep,'' said friend
Georges-Pierre. ``I believe he left in peace.''
In addition to daughter Nadine Patrice, Cambronne is survived by his wife, Ina
Gousse Cambronne; daughters, Myrlande Constant, Marie Franc¸oise, Martine
Cambronne, Guerda Prezeau and Josette Baptichon Julmelus; and sons Luckner
Francillon and Anael Francillon.
Viewing is from 5 to midnight tonight at Woodland Funeral Home, 11655 SW 117th
Ave. The funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic
Church, 11291 SW 142nd Ave.