Tonton Macoute
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The Tonton Macoutes (singular Tonton Macoute referring to a member thereof; or Ton Ton Macoute) was a Haitian militia force under the control of François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier.
The militia was created in 1959, modelled on the Italian fascist Blackshirts. The militia was renamed officially in 1971 the Milice de Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale (MVSN). It was notorious for its widespread and brutal oppression of political dissidents.
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Origin of name
In Haiti, like other nations, at Christmas, good children are visited by Santa Claus, known locally as Uncle Christmas (Father Christmas in other nations). The bad children are snatched by Uncle Gunnysack, or Uncle Knapsack. Translated literally from Creole: Tonton (Uncle) Macoute (gunnysack). The term "Tonton Macoutes" is equivalent in Haiti to the "bogeyman".
Duvalier
Duvalier (better known as "Papa Doc") came to power in 1957, as a democratically-elected leader on a populist platform. He had previously served as Minister of Health, and was noted due to his particular involvement in the fight against typhus. After an attempted coup against him in 1958, Duvalier rewrote the Haitian constitution, making himself a dictator. In 1959, he created the Tonton Macoute, which was granted automatic amnesty through his powers for any crime they committed.
Reputation
The Tonton macoutes were known for wearing dark glasses, wielding machetes, and leaving their victims hanging in a public place as a warning to others. They cultivated the image of being vodun demons or zombies.
It is alleged that the death squad continues to operate in Haiti, through 2000.
See also
fr:Tonton Macoute pl:Tonton Macoute ru:Тонтон-макуты sv:Tonton Macoute