POLICE CHIEF ANDRESOL NOMINATED FOR THREE MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001073

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM SNAR ASEC HA
SUBJECT: POLICE CHIEF ANDRESOL NOMINATED FOR THREE MORE
YEARS

Classified By: Ambassador Janet Sanderson for reason 1.4(b).


1. (C) President Preval on June 15 announced the nomination
of current Haitian National Police (HNP) Director General
Mario Andresol to continue in his position for three more
years. The Senate must now approve the nomination by
majority vote. The justice and security committee will begin
examination of his nomination in the coming week. Andresol
may face some scrutiny from senate President Joseph Lambert
and justice and security committee President Youri Latortue,
both of whom are widely believed to be involved in illegal
activities. Bolstered by Preval's direct support, however,
we expect Andresol to gain Senate approval.


2. (C) Since replacing Leon Charles as DG in summer, Andresol
has gained the respect of rich and poor alike, as he has
attempted to root out corruption within the force, improve
performance, and combat a wave of kidnapping that peaked at
the end of 2005, but shows signs of resurging. Andresol
enjoys the confidence of Robert Manuel, Preval's closest
advisor on police and security matters, and Rene Momplaisir,
Preval's liaison to the poor masses -- and almost certainly
at least some gang leaders -- in Cite Soleil. In
cooperation with MINUSTAH political and disarmament
officials, Andresol has also quietly entertained feelers from
several gang leaders in Cite Soleil and other poor
neighborhoods, notably Amaral Duclonat, who have expressed
interest in some kind of truce with the HNP. Andresol also
collaborated closely with UNPol commissioner Graham Muir in
repairing the damage over MINUSTAH's release of an HNP reform
plan Haitians regarded as infringement on their sovereignty,
and redrafting a reform program that will lead to productive
cooperation with UNPol and far-reaching HNP reform.


3. (C) Comment. Preval's nomination of Andresol is a
significant step forward. Andresol has not only promoted
honesty and integrity within the HNP, but has undertaken
significant iniiatives, such as the draft HNP rform plan
with MINUSTAH, that would have almost ertainly come grinding
to a halt without his contnued leadership. We look forward
to maintainingour own close bi-lateral cooperation through
himand expanding overall multi-lateral coordination as we
intensify our efforts to rebuild the HNP.
SANDERSON