Attempts to Overthrow Papa Doc Duvalier

Tracy Stacy
Spring, 1992

Student Paper from my 1992 Haitian History course

September 22, 1957 is a date which when mentioned brings memories of tyranny, oppression and terror to the minds of many people of Haitian descent. It is the day when Francois Duvalier, better known to most as Papa Doc, took the reigns of the Haitian government. Few could have foreseen the devastation that this elected dictator would bring to the masses of the Haitian population. Although Papa Doc was elected to the Presidential office for a non-renewable six year term, he extended his autocratic tenure for fourteen years. During the time period of 1957-1971, between 20,000 and 50,000 Haitians are said to have been murdered by Duvalier's government. An additional one-fifth of its population lives else-where in political or economic exile. An estimated 80% of Haitians employed in professional fields fled Haiti under this oppressive regime headed by a terrorist. The ramifications of this fleeing to technology and research, education and health care can not be over-estimated. Many of the problems faced by Haiti today can be traced back to the monstrous policies of Duvalierism.

The fact that Papa Doc was able to control the Haitian people by ruling with an iron fist policy and maintaining a large and viscous guard, known as the Ton Ton Macoutes, make it surprising that anyone would dare attempt to defy his orders and remove him from his coveted position. Although these attempts were generally unsuccessful and their leaders frequently met with death, they stand as testimony to the courageousness and spirit of the Haitian people. The first such invasion occurred on June 28, 1958, less than one year after the Haiti Elections placed Papa Doc in power. Eight men comprised the group of rebels. Three ex-deputy sheriffs from Miami, Florida and Buffalo, New York, joined by mercenaries and former mulatto officers landed near Montrouis which is approximately forty miles north of Port-au-Prince. As they were unloading their weapons, a local chief section arrived. The rebels shot the policeman and commandeered his jeep. On their way to the capital the jeep broke down. Posing as tourists, the group flagged down a tap tap (taxi bus), and hijacked it. Although this seems unbelievable, arrival by tap tap was not expected by the army and actually worked to the invaders advantage. They were able to drive into the Dessalines barracks and disarm the sleepy soldiers before the military became aware of their presence. Unfortunately for the rebels, the weapons which they had expected to be stored at the barracks had been moved to the palace. Meanwhile, Duvalier who had no idea that only eight men were involved in the invasion, prepared to flee the country via of the Columbian embassy. As dawn broke the rebels sent a mulatto officer who was being held hostage out to buy cigarettes and the number of invaders was quickly revealed to the authorities. Duvalier ordered troops to storm the barracks. Consequently, all eight men were killed.

On August 12, 1959 another attempt to rid Haiti of Papa Doc was made. This group was led by Creole speaking Henri d' Anton was comprised of Cuban guerrillas and Haitian exiles. The invaders came ashore Haitian land at Les Irois, the southern most tip of the country. The initial reaction in Port-au-Prince was panic. With the help of U.S. marines and a full scale mobilization of Haitian military forces, the invaders were either captured or killed. By August 22, it was all over.

The next attempted coup de tat came from the former Ton Ton Macoute chief Clemont Barbot. He was imprisoned for not sharing extorted money with his superior and because he dared to question the sanity of Papa Doc after his heart attack in May of 1959. He was later released. Barbot along with his brother Harry had big things planned for July 14, 1963. They were hiding out in a home near Radio Commerce where high officials of Duvalier's often frequented. They were going to kidnap the Information Minister, Georges Figaro, and use him to slip two car loads of ten men into the palace. Once inside, Barbot expected to be joined by a minimum of twenty Ton Ton Macoutes whose loyalty he still claimed. He would then kill Papa Doc and take control of the country. On the morning of the attack, however peasant informed authorities that a man who he thought was Barbot had shot at him. Duvalier immediately dispatched soldiers to the area where Barbot had last been seen. Barbot and his followers quickly escaped into a sugar cane field. Nowhere is the coldness of the Macoutes more apparent than it in the punishment of Barbot and his men. The soldiers set the field afire and systematically shot the rebels as they fled from the smoke and flames.

Despite Barbot's fate, a rebel group headed by Hector Riobe proceeded with an attack which was originally meant to supplement the actions of Barbot's men. Hectorys father had been slain in the streets and his family had been stripped of its wealth by the Duvalier regime. Riobe and a group of young men had assembled an armour plated car and a home made flame thrower. Just after dusk on the fateful July 14th, they began to drive the vehicle towards Petionville, scattering tire puncturing devices on the road behind them. Unfortunately for the rebels, their transportation stalled in front of the Petionville police station. The police, mistaking the young men for soldiers on patrol, offered their assistance. An inexperienced, nervous, follower of Riobels shot at the policeman. Thus exposed, the band of boys filled the barracks with gunfire and fled on foot towards the protection of the mountains. Enroute they made a daring and brilliant military move, They captured the Kenscoff army post and set off the alarm. As the Ton Ton Macoutes responded to the alarm, they were mowed down by gunfire.

Riobe and his followers retired to a cave in the mountains which had been previously stocked with food, water and ammunition. The cave had only one entrance which to approach frontally proved fatal for many militia men and Ton Ton Macoutes. The battle raged for days. Finally, Papa Doc played his trump card. Hector Riobels mother was sent to the caves entrance to plead with her son to surrender. Hector Riobels reply to his country's dictator made him a hero and a martyr to fellow revolutionaries. His answer was a single gunshot. The last survivor in the cave had given up the battle.

The heroics of Barbot and Riobe fired up a group of Haitian exiles who had been residing in Santa Domingo. The band of seventy men was led by General l,eon Cantave and Lieutenant Colonel Rene Leon. Early in July of 1963, the Dominican army had let Cantave and his recruits use their base for training. The group of recruits mostly composed of illiterate peasants, spent the majority of their time learning how to shoot. When the Dominican President, Juan Bosch, discovered the existence of this camp, the rebels were forced to move to a new location. On the night of August 2, 1963, Cantave's troops crammed into Dominican army trucks and headed to the border town of Dajabon. They were supplied with uniforms and boots. After the men plunged into the Massacre River, they were given their weapons. The weapons were U.S. made and had been given to Dominican exiles who were invading the Dominican Republic in June, 1959. On the 5th of August, the invaders marched into the small town of Derac. Against all invaders some of the excited, green recruits shot two militia men and six Ton Ton Macoutes. Any hope of a sneak attack had been eradicated. Several jeeps were commandeered for the assault on the next town, Fort Liberte. Cantave made the decision to attack the Ouanaminthe army barracks first because it lay to the rear of Derac and he did not want to leave his back ex-posed. Cantave contacted the commander to demand his surrender. Cantave was dismayed when his demand was denied by the captain who had previously assured him of cooperation. Unknown to the rebels, Papa Doc had been aware of their invasion plans and had the commander of the Ouanaminthe army barracks under Ton Ton Macoute guard. The commander was eventually publicly executed. The flexible General Cantave decided to implement his original plan and attack Fort Liberte. He sent one of his soldiers to demand its surrender. "Take the fort if you can" was the reply he received. Unbeknownst to Cantave the commander had moved his men in to excellent positions away from the fort. The battle seemingly fell apart at the start. All of Cantave's heavy weapons jammed. Worried about the condition of his guns, he ordered retreat back to the Dominican Republic. The exiles split into two groups for the retreat. Although both groups made it safely back to the Dominican Republic, the troop led by Colonel Leon lost most of their weapons while crossing the river. Before his invasion collapsed, General Cantave had requested aid and recognition of a provisional government from the United States. Both requests were denied.

Cantave wasted no time after returning to the Dominican Republic. He plead his case and was granted another chance at invasion by the military. On August 15, a column headed by Colonel Leon, quickly took the town of Ouanaminthe where only one medical corps corporal and two marched into the small town of Derac. Against all orders some of the excited, green, recruits shot two militia men and six Ton Ton Macoutes, Any hope of a sneak attack had been eradicated. Several jeeps were commandeered for the assault on the next town, Fort Liberte. Cantave made the decision to attack the Ouanaminthe army barracks first because it lay to the rear of Derac and he did not want to leave his back ex-posed. Cantave contacted the commander to demand his surrender. Cantave was dismayed when his demand was denied by the captain who had previously assured him of cooperation. Unknown to the rebels, Papa Doc had been aware of their invasion plans and had the commander of the Ouanaminthe army barracks under Ton Ton Macoute guard. The commander was eventually publicly executed. The flexible General Cantave decided to implement his original plan and attack Fort Liberte. He sent one of his soldiers to demand its surrender. "Take the fort if you can" was the reply he received. Unbeknownst to Cantave the commander had moved his men in to excellent positions away from the fort. The battle seemingly fell apart at the start. All of Cantave's heavy weapons jammed. Worried about the condition of his guns, he ordered retreat back to the Dominican Republic. The exiles split into two group for the retreat. Although both groups made it safely back to the Dominican Republic, the troop led by Colonel Leon lost most of their weapons while crossing the river. Before his invasion collapsed, General Cantave had requested aid and recognition of a provisional government from the United States. Both requests were denied.

Cantave wasted no time after returning to the Dominican Republic. He plead his case and was granted another chance at invasion by the military. On August 15, a column headed by Colonel Leon, quickly took the town of Ouanaminthe where only one medical corps corporal and two soldiers were on duty. The medic informed Leon that a garrison was on the way. Leon sent a twelve man ambush squad to Croix Rouqe for the reported garrison. As two trucks and a Volkswagen headed toward the ambush sight, an anxious rebel fired too early and blew the squads cover. The rebels were only able to destroy one truck with grenades. Meanwhile, Colonel Leon had word from one of his patrolmen that shooting had been heard. Leon, keenly aware of the disadvantage he faced in weapons, ordered retreat. When the soldiers returned to their camp in the Dominican they found twenty-six more exiles waiting to join them. Their numbers were growing.

Cantave had been in New York, gathering rebels and financial aid from the CIA. He had to prove to the CIA that he had the support of the people in order to gain financial assistance. Cantave sent a small group of men back across the border. On a one day move against the town of Ferrier, the liberators, as Cantave liked to be called, killed the mayor and raced back to the border. The Ferrier action showed good faith to the CIA. His army grew to 210 men and he bazookas, M-1 rifles and machine guns from the United States.

On September 22, Cantave led a force of two hundred men back across the border. The objective was to take Ouanaminthe. At 6:00 a.m. the battle began. Once again the commander of the barracks had been forewarned of the impending attack and had moved his men to advantageous positions outside of the fort. No clear battle plan emerged and confusion reigned on the battle field. Cantave once again ordered retreat. As the rebel band was crossing the border, they were fired on by Haitian border guards. Bullets from a Haitian machine gun struck buildings on Dominican soil. This incident caused increased tensions between the two governments.

Although the attempt at liberating Ouanaminthe was a complete failure, the Dominican military leaders used the episode to launch a coup de tat against their president. Two days later the military announced that Bosch had been deposed and a proclaimed the installation of a civil junta to replace him. The reason for the overthrow was the fear of Bosch and his democratic leftism. The military did not want to lose its many privileges. Additional segments of the churchy business and labor had also built an antagonistic attitude towards Bosch. Therefore, the coup was allowed to succeed without intervention. After his defeat at Ouanaminthe, Leoon Cantave was kept in detention by the Dominicans. Eventually he was permitted to leave the country for New York. The remainder of his small army was disbanded and sent to fend for themselves. Early in 1964 a Catholic priest by the name of Jean-Baptiste Theovges, traveled South America attempting to raise funds for yet another invasion against the cruel regime of Papa Doc. Fred Baptiste a former member of General Cantave's forces, began to recruit Haitian exiles. Father Jean-Claude Bajeux, who had been exiled in February, 1964 formed an association known as "Friendship of Peoples Foundation". His staff was composed of Haitian exiles. Fred Baptiste and Father Georges carefully selected recruits from the legions of exiles in the Dominican. They quietly slipped out of town to training camps where they drilled intensively. This group of rebels called themselves Camoquins. On the afternoon of June 27th, 1964, a band of twenty nine revolutionaries boarded a boat and were deposited off Saltrou on Haiti's western shore. The Camoquins began unloading weapons into a dingy. Two men were killed when the dingy capsized. Kvoral Ton Ton tensions between the two governments. Their reinforcements never made it.

Although the attempt at liberating Ouanaminthe was a complete failure, the Dominican military leaders used the episode to launch a coup de tat against their president. Two days later the military announced that Bosch had been deposed and a proclaimed the installation of a civil junta to replace him. The reason for the overthrow was the fear of Bosch and his democratic leftism. The military did not want to lose its many privileges. Additional segments of the church, business and labor had also built an antagonistic attitude towards Bosch. Therefore, the coup was allowed to succeed without intervention. After his defeat at Ouanaminthe, Leon Cantave was kept in detention by the Dominicans. Eventually he was permitted to leave the country for New York. The remainder of his small army was disbanded and sent to fend for themselves. Another air attack came on June 4, 1959. The plane which launched the attack carried Colonel Loon and several U.S. and Canadian mercenaries. Their bombs malfunctioned and the only thing the would be attackers accomplished was to create panic in the capital. On their return to the Bahamas the crew was apprehended but was eventually deported to the United States. In April of 1970 all five ships of the Garde-Cotes commenced shooting at the Palais National. They did not hit their intended target. The expected uprising of the army never materialized.

Duvalier soldiers were unable to reach the ships, with their gunnery. A two day stalemate was ended when the commander of the Garde-Coteu sailed his squadron to Guatanamo Bay into asylum. This was the last unsuccessful coup attempt against the durable, self proclaimed President for Life. The causes for the failure of the numerous invasions are waived. The rugged terrain, lack of financial backing, had planning and Duvalier informants all contributed to the failed insurrections. Many courageous men died trying to free the masses of the Haitian population from a cruel, ruthless and tormented tyrant.

On the 21st of April in 1971 Francois Duvalier died. For the first time in Haitian history, a father had handed over the presidency to his son. Duvalierism would continue. One dictator was gone but another would follow.