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Haiti News Media > Haiti News > Tonton Macoute - Haiti History Tonton Macoute, Haiti History 
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 Duvalier. The Macoutes were led by Duvalier's second in command, Luckner Cambronne,
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 repression of political dissidents. Origin of name
In Haiti, like other nations, at Christmas, good children are visited by Santa Claus, known locally as Uncle Christmas. The bad children are visited 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 populist, freely elected. He had served as Minister of Health, and was noted in the fight against Typhus. After an attempted coup against him in 1958, Duvalier rewrote the Haitian constitution. In 1959, he created the force, which was granted automatic amnesty for any crime committed during any official act.
Reputation
The Tonton Macoutes were known for dressing in militant clothing comparative of Italian fascist and Nazi attire.
They were also 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. They often had firearms but resorted to machetes and blades to inflict severe and grievous bodily harm to victims. Torture was a widespread tactic and used to warn enemies of the MVSN.
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