PREVAL AND THE GOH WRESTLE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001389

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL AND THE GOH WRESTLE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH
CITE SOLEIL, PROPOSES "GLOBAL PLAN" IN COORDINATION WITH
DONORS AND MINUSTAH


Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson, reason 1.5(b)


1. (C) Summary. President Preval told the core Ambassadors,
SRSG Mulet and UN aid officials that persuading the gangs of
Cite Soleil to lay down their guns would work only if coupled
with a more vigorous effort to improve the slum's conditions.
He called for better coordination of assistance programs in
Cite Soleil, ensuring that they support and enhance GOH
disarmament efforts. He stated that small projects did not
have sufficient impact at this time, given the immediate
needs of the slum. He asked for the establishment of a joint
GOH/donor/MINUSTAH task force to ensure that disarmament and
assistance issues are worked in parallel. Donor reaction to
the proposal was mixed. Although we are pleased to see that
GOH is beginning to tackle the issue of Cite Soleil, Preval's
proposal, unless managed carefully, runs the risk of making
the international community responsible - at least at the
outset - for the success or failure of the GOH's Cite Soleil
policy. End Summary.


2. (C) President Preval convoked Core Ambassadors, SRSG Mulet
and UN aid officials to a two hour meeting at the Presidency
on July 28 to discuss Cite Soleil. In a meandering
presentation, Preval said that persuading the gangs to lay
down their guns would work only if coupled with a more
vigorous effort to improve the slum's conditions. He argued
that current assistance programs in Cite Soleil and other
"hot zones" suffered from a lack of donor coordination,
project overlap, and limited vision. What was needed, the
president stated, is "a coordinated, targeted and coherent
global plan" where disarmament and assistance are
complementary and reinforce each other. Preval called for a
task force, comprised of GOH, MINUSTAH and donor
participants, to develop policy options for Cite Soleil and
asked MINUSTAH to organize the group under the leadership of
the Prime Minister.


3. (C) Preval was clearly uninterested in discussing any
programs in Cite Soleil (including those of the USG)
currently underway, contending that they were too small in
scope to address the slum's pressing needs. He was dismissive
of "basketball courts and playground" projects, saying the
residents want now something which more immediately will
improve their lives. With regard to my presentation of OTI
activities in Cite Soleil, Preval suggested that we had spent
more than dols 1 million with little visible impact to date
and he requested a detailed read out of our current
activities. The international community needed to do better
by Cite Soleil, he said. When I suggested that the security
situation has hampered our and other donors' ability to work
in the slums, Preval got testy.


4. (C) Preval stressed that his decision to develop a globl
plan in no way constitutes "negotiation" with the gangs.
Rather, he said, it indicates the "seriousness" of the
government's intent. Assistance projects will not be a
"reward" to gangs, but rather a means to wean the slum
populations from the grip of the criminals. The President
also noted that while the government wants to "cut the head"
of the gangs, it must find ways to integrate other members
back into society. Preval stated that most do want to lay
down their weapons, "they know they cannot continue like
this." Thus, he said, a carrot and stick policy is in order.



5. (C) The President's presentation caught most donors, as
well as the SRSG (who Preval unexpectedly asked to chair the
session),by surprise. Indeed, Prime Minister Alexis had
told me the previous day that Preval would likely tell us
that he had decided to appoint a joint GOH/MINUSTAH committee
to deal with the gangs. Donor reaction was decidedly mixed.
SRSG Mulet welcomed Preval's approach, saying the lack of a
coordination mechanism had indeed hampered implementation of
activities in Cite Soleil. The Canadian Ambassador cited the
lack of an overall GOH plan for the area as a major
impediment in dealing with the slum's many problems and urged
the President to engage the private sector. Our French
colleague noted that he was responsible to his Parliament for
the use of his aid funds and could make no blanket
commitments. SRSG and UNDP rep promised to follow up with

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GOH.


6. (C) Comment. Preval confidant Bob Manuel later explained
to me that Preval called the meeting to find out what tools
he would have at his disposal when the government and
MINUSTAH moves on disarmament. (Manuel added that Preval did
not not intend to diss our OTI projects.) Stressing that
this is a particularly sensitive time in the evolution of GOH
government policy on the gangs, he said that the President
did not want to show his hand at this stage with specifics
about what he intends to do with the gangs. He acknowledged
that perhaps the President should have floated this trial
balloon of a task force a little earlier. Be that as it may,
Preval's idea of a donor/GOH/MINUSTAH task force runs the
risk of putting the international community out front on Cite
Soleil policy if not carefully managed. Preval knows he has
to act, but the ever cautious president clearly is trying to
surround himself with as many buffers (and carrots) as
possible.
SANDERSON