Talk About a Teflon Candidate . . .

By DAVID ELLIS/

Roger Lafontant, former chief of Baby Doc Duvalier's brutal Tonton Macoutes, has added a strange new chapter to Haiti's political scene by running for President in the Dec. 16 elections. He enters the race with an unusual handicap: a warrant for his arrest was issued in July for crimes he allegedly committed with the Macoutes. Haiti's attorney general is reminding citizens that anyone who shelters the strongman is subject to prosecution. With typical swagger, Lafontant opposes the presence of outside observers at the elections, and officials fear his campaign will serve as a beachhead for the return of other Duvalierists. When Lafontant appeared in public to announce his candidacy, he was protected by heavily armed soldiers. He has been touring the provinces, stumping and handing out cash to voters.

With reporting by DANIEL S. LEVY