Interview: 'I'd Like to Go Back'; Baby Doc claims life was better under his iron rule.(Jean-Claude Duvalier)(Interview)

Byline: Christopher Dickey and Marie Valla

Jean-Claude (baby doc) Duvalier, son of the late dictator Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier, ruled Haiti between 1971 and 1986, when he fled to France. He has lived there ever since. Accused but never convicted of stealing huge sums of money from the government and committing gross human- rights abuses, he's now talking about returning to his homeland. He spoke with NEWSWEEK's Christopher Dickey and Marie Valla on March 26. Excerpts:

Do you plan to return to Haiti?

I'd like to go back to my country. I think that I ought to participate in the reconstruction.

Why can't Haiti solve its persistent problems of corruption, poverty and violence? Your personal militia, the Tonton Macoutes, was accused of human-rights abuses.

Haiti doesn't have a monopoly on corruption. Unfortunately, these last years, there hasn't been any administration. The government was almost nonexistent. I can understand the reaction, because the U.S. spent over $3 billion when Aristide was brought back. In my time, there was corruption, but we fought it. The Tonton Macoutes were first and foremost volunteers who defended national security.

But Aristide would have said the same thing about the gangs who support him.