DOMINICAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF ON HAITI, NEXT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001965 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/PPC, AND DRL NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON LABOR FOR ILAB TREASURY FOR OASIA-LAMONICA USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2008 TAGS: PGOV MARR HA DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF ON HAITI, NEXT DOMINICAN AMBASSADOR Classified By: ECOPOL Counselor Michael Meigs for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) In conversation with DATT and POLOFF on March 22 Dominican Armed Forces Secretary LTG Soto Jiminez expressed concern over "gangs of criminals" that he said controlled the Haitian side of the northern border with the Dominican Republic. Dominican security forces along the border consequently have no authorized counterparts with whom to coordinate border controls and other issues. The gangs collected illegal taxes from traders or blocked their passage when they tried to cross the border to engage in legitimate commerce, particularly at weekly markets on which many Dominicans and Haitians depend for food or income. Soto urged that the multinational interim force in Haiti deploy troops to re-establish Haitian government authority in the north. ¶2. (C) Soto told us that the previous Dominican ambassador in Port-au-Prince Despradel would not return, owing to alleged abuse of his position. The new ambassador will be a military officer, who because of his experience will be better able to assess the unstable security situation. ¶3. (U) Port au Prince minimize considered. HERTELL