HAITI: PREVAL APPOINTS NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR

S E C R E T PORT AU PRINCE 001303 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS DEPT PASS DHS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KHLS SMIG ASEC HA SUBJECT: HAITI: PREVAL APPOINTS NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC SECURITY REF: TD-314/16100-00 5/18/2000 Classified By: Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Speaking at the Haitian Diaspora conference on Wednesday evening (July 12),Preval announced his choice for secretary of state for public security, Luc Eucher Joseph. SIPDIS Joseph is the former chief inspector general of the Haitian National Police. Over the past 2 years, he has worked in Haiti's diplomatic mission in Rome, according to Radio Kiskeya. He previously left his post as IG and the country allegedly under political pressure from former President Aristide and his associates. ¶2. (U) In his remarks announcing the appointment of Joseph, Preval said that Haiti had largely achieved political security. In his opinion, the "insecurity that is raging now is banditry linked to misery, drugs, and the repatriation of certain criminals." He called on Joseph to reform the police department and the department of justice, which has also contributed to the current insecurity. ¶3. (S/NF) Joseph, a lawyer by training, is well-known for his tough stance on corrupt police officers. However, reftel reports that, while IG in 1997, he initiated a policy that members of the IG staff were to refrain from investigating leads of drug trafficking by police assigned to protect President Preval or President Aristide. ¶4. (S/NF) Comment: Joseph's "tough on corruption" approach is welcome news. However, Joseph's previous hands-off policy towards the members of the President's detail is troubling. His past decisions suggest that he may only seek reform where it is comfortable to do so. Preval's remarks criticizing repatriation of criminals is an unhelpful slap at the U.S. repatriation program. End Comment. SANDERSON