Duvalier Tours Capital, Shows He’s in Charge
President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier toured a looted area of the capital today by motorcade in an effort to show the population he remained in control.
About half the shops were open under heavy guard after a week of violent protests across this Caribbean nation.
“We opened because there is a law against remaining closed,” one store owner said. “But we are afraid. All the merchants here are afraid.”
As Duvalier rode through the downtown area in a jeep driven by his wife, Michele, hundreds of people rushed to view the spectacle.
Militiamen, soldiers and police guarded several stores, including at least 10 that were ransacked Friday and Saturday after false reports that Duvalier had fled the country.
The streets today were crowded with people walking to work and peasants selling live chickens, turkeys and fruit, but at least half the stores in the business district were tightly shuttered with wooden or metal gates protecting their entrances.
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