HAITI: NOVEMBER 22 NEPTUNE/JEAN-JUSTE VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002916

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
WHA ALSO FOR USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: NOVEMBER 22 NEPTUNE/JEAN-JUSTE VISIT


Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY M. CARNEY, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).


1. (C) Poloff visited former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune at
the Pacot Prison Annex on November 22. Despite his continued
hunger strike, now approaching day 200, Neptune appeared
stronger than he did on the last visit of October 27.
Neptune reported that his personal physician had not seen him
in about one month but that he had no pressing health
concerns and would await her next visit. Poloff conveyed
Mrs. Neptune's continued concern for her husband's health.
Neptune asked poloff to relay his message to his wife to "do
what she has to do" (meaning to do what needs to be done to
have him released). Neptune also reminded poloff to forward
the cause for his release, although he lamented that it
probably wouldn't occur under this government nor before the
transition.


2. (C) Neptune also commented on his new neighbors at the
annex, former Western Departmental Director Carlo Lochard and
former Director of the Administrative Police Renand Etienne,
who were imprisoned for their alleged role in the August 20
soccer match police operation which resulted in at least six
deaths. Neptune remarked on the irony of Etienne's
imprisonment at the Annex next to him. He also noted that
when he turned himself over to the police in 2004, Etienne
was the only officer who accompanied former police Director
General Leon Charles to take him into custody. Neptune said
that he resents the proximity of Lochard and Etienne in the
bedroom right next to his and expressed his general lack of
trust for members of the police force in Haiti.

Jean-Juste
--------------

3. (C) Father Jean-Juste appeared in good health but the
mysterious swelling of his neck persisted (he insists is a
result of a "beating" he received in the events surrounding
his July arrest). On October 20, partisans of Father
Jean-Juste from Pax Christi USA contacted poloff and
expressed concern over his health. Poloff intervened and
asked the Prisons Director to coordinate blood tests and
x-rays by the chief prison physician. Neither the blood
screenings nor the x-rays netted worrisome results, but the
physician's report recommended that Jean-Juste have more
extensive tests conducted, including a possible
hospitalization for a biopsy of the abscess. Jean-Juste
didn't complain of any discomfort, but expressed his desire
to have an accurate diagnosis for the condition of his neck.


4. (C) Concerning his legal case, Jean-Juste said that Judge
Peres Paul rejected his lawyer's writ of habeas corpus in
October. The judge has also requested a 30-day extension
from the State Prosecutor to continue his investigation. In
accordance with Haitian law, the Prosecutor granted the
extension and the investigation will likely continue until
mid-December. Jean-Juste speculated that the extension was
just a ploy to invent evidence because he doesn't believe
that the prosecutor has enough information to mount a strong
case against him. Meanwhile, he is awaiting a decision on
his appeal to Pope Benedict XVI on his suspension by the
Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. He expected that the Papal
Nuncio would bring him an update this week from his recent
trip to the Vatican.

5. (C) Comment: Despite the lull in media coverage on Neptune
and Jean-Juste, Post will continue our regular visits and
update accordingly any movement in their respective cases.
End Comment.
CARNEY