Duvalier Flees Haiti to France : Military-Civilian Panel Takes Over; Thousands Rejoice

A military-civilian council took power Friday and called for calm after President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier fled to France in a U.S. Air Force plane, triggering rejoicing and then widespread looting.

Thousands of Haitians, whose poverty had increased under 28 years of repressive rule by the Duvalier family, poured into downtown Port-au-Prince, shouting: “He flew away!”

Duvalier arrived in Grenoble, France, hours later, accompanied by his wife and about 20 other people.

The new council announced a 2 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew after the crowds looted businesses and at least one government ministry. Soldiers enforcing the curfew used tear gas and fired into the air, but no casualties were reported.

‘Peaceful Solution’

In a taped message broadcast nearly four hours after his pre-dawn departure, the 34-year-old Duvalier said his decision to leave “permits a peaceful and rapid solution to the current crisis.”

His government, which allowed no political parties and relied on a national militia to put down dissent, had been the target of growing protests since last November. Rioting in the capital and other major cities last week led to an erroneous White House report Jan. 31 that he had fled the country, but Duvalier insisted then that he was “strong, as firm as a monkey’s tail.”

In his message Friday, Duvalier said: “I have decided to pass the destiny of the nation into the hands of the military . . . so a bloodbath (can) be avoided for my people.”

Jubilant Haitians climbed on buses, honked car horns and tore down posters put up by Duvalier’s government.

Furniture Stolen

In the Delmas suburb of the capital, mobs attacked the auto dealership and related businesses of Duvalier’s father-in-law, Ernest Bennett, stealing automobiles and carrying away office furniture and window frames.

“This makes me happy,” said one man who was watching. “They forced the people to react in this manner. They’re hungry. Now they will go to work and eat.”

Hundreds of people broke into the nearby Information Ministry and stripped away everything from furniture to plumbing fixtures. One man danced in the street with a toilet on his shoulders, water from the tank running down his back.

Police and soldiers at first stood by but later broke up the crowd by firing tear gas and shots into the air.

Store’s Stock Depleted

About 1,000 people removed or destroyed the entire stock of the French-owned K-Dis supermarket, Haiti’s largest, in 40 minutes.

Cheering crowds gathered at Duvalier’s palace, where the new governing council appeared on the steps and was given a 21-gun salute.

“A new president will create a lot of jobs and now we are going to have--what is the word?--democracy,” said Leroy Sance, 23, who said he was unemployed.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Henri Namphy said on national television that he was head of the new council, and he appealed for “calm and serenity.” He said the military had no political ambitions, “not now or ever,” suggesting the council may be an interim government.

Duvalier’s Decision

U.S. Embassy spokesman Jeffrey Lite said, “The embassy is in touch with the members of the new government, has known these individuals previously and is looking forward to working with them.”

In Washington, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said, “The decision to leave Haiti was Duvalier’s. We believe the decision was the correct one. The only way Duvalier could remain in power was through repression and force.”

When Duvalier arrived at a Grenoble airport Friday evening with his entourage, half a dozen police vehicles, their lights flashing, converged on the C-141 military transport plane. French media reports said Duvalier would spend the night at an undisclosed location in the mountainous region of southeastern France, then travel to the Riveria.

The French government made it clear that Duvalier’s stay in the country was temporary, until another country grants him permanent refuge.

Adviser to Council

In addition to Namphy, Haiti’s national television identified other members of the new governing council as Col. William Rigala, Col. Max Vales, Public Works Minister Alix Cineas and Gerard Gourgue, chairman of the Haitian Human Rights Commission. It named Col. Prosper Abril as an adviser to the council.

Duvalier, nicknamed “Baby Doc” by foreign journalists, inherited power at age 19 in 1971 from his father, Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier. The elder Duvalier was elected in 1957 and later declared himself president-for-life.

Both father and son used a national militia called the Tontons Macoutes to put down dissent among the 6 million people of Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

After Duvalier’s departure, demonstrators shouted, “Down with the Macoutes, long live the army.” Some pelted militia members with fruit and vegetables.

SAcared and Confused

The militiamen appeared scared and confused, shouting at each other to stick together and head for the barracks.

Lite said Duvalier contacted the French Embassy Thursday afternoon to seek temporary asylum, then met with U.S. Ambassador Clayton E. McManaway to ask for transportation.

Duvalier drove his BMW sedan to Francois Duvalier International Airport before dawn Friday with his wife, Michele, at his side.

Lite said 23 people accompanied Duvalier, including his mother, his son, two children from his wife’s previous marriage and three security guards.

The estimated 6,000 Americans currently in Haiti were advised to stay indoors, Lite said.

Americans Cautioned

“The crowd could become ugly,” he said. “We just think it is prudent for Americans to keep a low profile today and see how things develop.”

In Miami, where up to 100,000 Haitian refugees live, many poured into the streets chanting, “No more Duvalier,” and waving Haitian flags. Many said they planned to return home.