Several political and police leaders in Haiti have taken refuge in the Dominican Republic when they were forced to leave their territories in the face of political crises, including presidents following a coup.
Others forced to leave Haiti have flown on to get the protection they need, with the United States, France, South Africa and Panama being some of the destinations. Former Haitian President Henri Namphy and Prosper Avril, as well as former Police Chief Joseph Michel Francos and Guy Philippe, are some of those who have come to the Dominican Republic to seek protection.
Former President of Haiti, Henri Namphy, was deported to the Dominican Republic in September 1988, after being removed from the presidency by a coup that took place on June 20 of that year, using members of the Presidential Guard, as discussed in the online biographical encyclopedia Biographies and Life.
The Haitian politician and serviceman settled in the Dominican Republic until his death on June 26, 2018, at the age of 85, and according to the Listín Diario publication on that date, he requested to be buried on Dominican soil because he was disgusted with your nation.
Hit of State
In 1994, former Haitian police chief Joseph Michel Francos also took refuge in the Dominican Republic. He was one of the soldiers who took part in the coup that toppled Jean Bertrand Aristide in 1991. He then left for Honduras when the Dominican Republic deported him for staging another coup in Haiti, according to reports from the Spanish newspaper El País.
Guy Philippe, former Chief of Police of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, also fled to the Dominican Republic in October 2000 after being charged with leading the coup attempt against President René Preval, where he stayed until February 14, 2004, when there was a new uprising against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
He stayed in the Dominican Republic for some time and returned to Haiti to take part in an uprising against Aristide. Later, in January 2017, he was arrested and sent to the United States, where he was tried and convicted of various crimes according to various media and international bodies.
Request for refuge
Recently, the former mayor of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Chevry Youry Ralph; the former governor of the city of Sacalasou, Werson Pierre, and police officers, Antonine Maquendy and Wiquensont Despine, on the run after being accused of organizing a coup attempt against President Jovenel Moise.
Listín Diario reported that Haitian immigrants were arrested Monday evening by members of the military at the border checkpoint of the municipal district of Santiago de la Cruz, in Dajabón. Last Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense reported that they had been arrested irregularly trying to enter Dominican territory because they did not have proper documentation.
IN POINTS.
Prosper Avril.
Also, former Haiti president Prosper Avril settled in the Dominican Republic in 1990 after his flight from Miami, United States, when he was charged in federal court with torture and human rights violations during his administration.
Protests
Haiti is going through a violent crisis, with protests calling for Jovenel Moise’s resignation.