Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PORTAUPRINCE1599
2005-06-07 19:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

MINUSTAH AND HNP RAID BEL AIR; GANGS RETALIATE;

Tags:  PGOV PREL ASEC HA MINUSTAH 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001599 

SIPDIS

WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA
DS/DSS/ITA
DSERCC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC HA MINUSTAH
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH AND HNP RAID BEL AIR; GANGS RETALIATE;
POLICE STATION ATTACKED IN THE NORTH

REF: A. PAP 1522

B. PAP 1562

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Douglas M. Griffiths, for reaso
ns 1.4 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001599

SIPDIS

WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA
DS/DSS/ITA
DSERCC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC HA MINUSTAH
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH AND HNP RAID BEL AIR; GANGS RETALIATE;
POLICE STATION ATTACKED IN THE NORTH

REF: A. PAP 1522

B. PAP 1562

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Douglas M. Griffiths, for reaso
ns 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: In response to the May 31 attack on a
downtown public market (ref A) and subsequent threats by
gangs to commit similar acts throughout Port-au-Prince, the
Haitian National Police (HNP) and MINUSTAH conducted a joint
operation in Bel Air June 4 that reportedly resulted in 7
deaths and 34 arrests. Other criminal violence over the June
3-5 weekend produced further casualties, although the exact
number and circumstances remain uncertain. Kidnappings
continue unabated, including four cases on June 6 involving
victims related to mission locally employed staff.
Separately, a police station and a former elections office in
Le Borgne were attacked June 2 by an alleged paramilitary
group operating in the north of Haiti. End summary.

HNP-MINUSTAH raid in Bel Air
--------------


2. (C) HNP Director General Leon Charles told the DCM on June
6 that the gangs suspected to be responsible for the "Tet
Boeuf" market fire on May 31 were threatening to burn other
marketplaces. The group, "Armee Sans Tete," reportedly led by
"General Toutou" and based in Bel Air, began as a kidnapping
ring but had allegedly turned more violent. The HNP and
CIVPOL met on June 3 and agreed on a joint operation for June

4. According to Charles, the HNP, backed by CIVPOL and
MINUSTAH military, moved in to Bel Air at roughly 0400 and
began a house-to-house search in the target area. When
residents began shooting at police, the HNP requested
covering fire from a Jordanian FPU to allow HNP SWAT forces
to enter the remaining homes. The Bel Air raid resulted in 2
deaths and 34 arrests, according to Charles. (Note: the UN
does not have independent figures for the number of deaths.
End note).


3. (C) The early morning raid reportedly stirred anger
amongst Bel Air gangs who then spent the morning on a
vengeful search for police. Around mid-day, Charles said,

gangs reportedly tried to attack the family home of a Crowd
Control Unit (CIMO) officer. The home was unoccupied, but
gangs allegedly set fire to 3 houses and 3 cars in the area.
The HNP responded to the scene where a significant amount of
gunfire was exchanged between police and gang members,
resulting in the deaths of five people.

Other weekend violence
--------------


4. (C) Other violence throughout the city on June 4 no doubt
contributed to the number of casualties. Sources told us that
well-armed bandits attacked businesses in the Delmas 2
district on June 4, including M&S Construction and a Comcel
(mobile phone) building at the intersection of Rue Nazon and
Rue Logand (ref B). Sources at both Comcel and M&S
construction told emboffs that their guards exchanged
significant fire with the gangs. The bandits told M&S
security guards that they merely wanted to transit the M&S
property in order to attack the rear of the police station
that abuts M&S's property. In addition, there were two
reports of unsuccessful attacks on the port. On the evening
of June 3, four boats with four-to-five armed men in each
boat, approached the port from the water. Port guards and
Haitian Coast Guard rebuffed the attack, but the gunmen
threatened that they would return on Monday, June 6. On the
evening of June 4, embassy officers received reports of an
attack on the port's man gate. We contacted Minustah
authorities, who responded with an APC. Minustah's quick
response to this incident underscored their tepid response to
the exchanges of gunfire reported above.

Tallying up the Deaths
--------------


5. (C) While some press reports suggest police killed as
many as 25 people and burned several homes themselves,
Charles declared that the General Hospital Ambulance
recovered a total of 7 bodies from the two incursions to Bel
Air, and denied reports that the police had burned any
buildings. According to the human rights organizations RNDDH
(formerly NCHR),the central morgue director reported
receiving a total of 25 bodies from June 3-6: 4 on June 3; 16
on June 4 (not all deaths from gunshot wounds); 2 on June 5
and 2 on June 6, including one police officer. (Note: Charles
explained that an HNP officer was shot the morning of June 6
as he escorted his child to school near Nazon. End note). Ten
of the bodies received on June 4 reportedly came from the
area around the Comcel office, not Bel Air. MINUSTAH suggests
that lower Delmas is the site of a continuing war for
territory by gangs associated with Dred Wilme are attempting
to replace local gang leaders with their allies.

Kidnappings continue unabated
--------------


6. (C) Although many kidnappings are not reported to police
or MINUSTAH, unofficial reports to the Embassy of kidnappings
continue to rise. On June 6, the American Citizen Services
Section of the Embassy reported that four Embassy employees
had been affected by kidnappings on the morning of June 6:
the son of a GSO employee (released the same day); the
daughter of a GSO contract driver; the brother of a USAID
employee, and the daughter of another USAID employee. In
addition, on June 5, a woman was reportedly kidnapped near
the Caribbean Market on Delmas 75. (Note: The Caribbean is
frequented by Embassy personnel. End note).

Attack in LeBorgne
--------------


7. (C) MINUSTAH reports that on June 2, roughly 10 armed men
from the so-called "Armee Dessalines de Liberation Nationale"
(ADLN) raided an HNP post and a city electoral registration
center in Le Borgne, on the northern coast between Cap
Haitien and Port-de-Paix. The group captured the 4 HNP
officers manning the post and destroyed part of the interior
of the station before moving to a former communal elections
office (BEC),where they threw a molotov cocktail and shot at
the front of the building. No casualties were reported. OAS
registration chief Elizabeth Spehar told us June 7 that this
attack did not hit any currently operating election
facilities.


Comment
--------------


8. (C) Much of the violence (and most of the deaths) over the
weekend appears related to continued efforts by Cite Soleil
gangs to expand their area of influence in Port-au-Prince.
These battles are increasingly violent, with some business
leaders there now relying on more heavily armed security
personnel to protect their interests. The MINUSTAH-HNP
operation seems to have successfully netted several important
gang leaders, but the HNP feels increasingly hunted by gangs
who are angry at their losses and vow vengeance against the
entire HNP.


9. (C) The Le Borgne attack highlights a lesser-known aspect
of the troubled security situation here, namely the presence
in certain parts of Haiti's north of shadowy armed groups
with mixed political and criminal motives. Their reach is by
no means widespread, but they represent another potential
threat to the electoral process. Septel will provide more
details.
FOLEY