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