More than one observer predicted that the outcome of this divide and conquer policy towards the military might result in the ouster of President Manigat. Lt. Gen. Namphy was freed at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday by an officer and other supporters, who then proceeded to seize the National Palace. At 1:20 a.m. Monday, June 20, 1988, Lt. General Namphy appeared on Haitian television wearing a steel helmet and carrying a machinegun and announced that the army had taken power.
210. The deposed President, Leslie Manigat, described his ouster to the Commission and stated that the State Residence where he lived was attacked with tanks and shot at it at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, after Lt. Gen. Namphy's declaration on television, causing the destruction of the upper part of the State Residence. President Manigat surrendered in the presence of 20 people, among them his wife and parents and subsequently, was taken to an aviation camp where he was kept in custody until a military plane flew him to the Dominican Republic. Mr. Manigat testified to the Commission that:
(…) my house was attacked by guns and tanks. At 2:00 a.m. they shot at my house. Three officers - Col. Prosper Avril, Maj. Henri-Robert Augustin and Maj. Marc Charles - organized the take over as the presidential guard took Haiti's only armored tanks and freed Lt. Gen. Namphy from his house arrest and brought him to the National Palace.79
Mr. Manigat, stated that the crucial element in the success of the coup was possession of the armored tanks.
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