PRIME MINISTER TO PARLIAMENT ON INSECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001514 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER TO PARLIAMENT ON INSECURITY REF: A. PAP 1425 ¶B. PAP 1481 PORT AU PR 00001514 001.4 OF 002 ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: Prime Minister Jacques Eduoard Alexis on August 10-11 appeared before the parliament with the Superior Council for the National Police (CSPN) to discuss the government's plan to combat gang violence in Port-au-Prince. The PM answered questions for several hours over two days, describing the executive's "carrot and stick" plan to control the armed gang members and entice them to lay down their weapons. Alexis acknowledged the HNP's inability to combat the insecurity in the capitol city and announced his support for the creation of an additional armed force, the gendarmerie. The chamber of deputies and the senate both pushed for the re-establishment of the army (abolished by former President Aristide) noting that an armed force was constitutionally mandated. Alexis' appearance seems to have quieted parliamentary criticism of the government and MINUSTAH -- after most parliamentarians were prepared to boycott UNSYG Annan the previous week (ref A) -- and redirected parliamentary debate on security toward the issue of a new armed force. End Summary. ¶3. (U) The CSPN, comprised of the prime minister, the ministers of interior and justice, the director general and the inspector general of the Haitian National Police (HNP), and the secretary of state of public security appeared before the chamber of deputies and the senate on August 10-11, after twice delaying their appearance and generating much criticism within parliament. Prime Minister Alexis answered parliamentary questions about the rise in violence one day after President Preval announced his ultimatum to the gangs, &give up your arms or face death.8 (ref B). ¶4. (U) Alexis attributed the rise in violence to criminal gangs, drug traffickers, political opportunists, and deportees. He stressed that the government was prepared to use force to confront the armed gangs. He acknowledged that the disarmament program had not yielded positive results, but that the government was leaving a door open to dialogue, wanting force to be its last resort, and again framing this plan as the "carrot and stick." ¶5. (U) Alexis said that Preval was in contact with all sectors; MINUSTAH, the HNP, the private sector, as well as the political class to accomplish disarmament and create a more stable society. Alexis admitted that the HNP was not equipped to take on the gangs and the government was in the process of creating a plan for reforming the police. He additionally announced the executive's support of a "new force that would guarantee the peace of the country." He emphasized the necessity to have reform in the justice system and to create social programs for those living in impoverished slums to treat the problem of insecurity from several angles. ¶6. (U) The chamber's president of the public security commission applauded the CSPN,s efforts to curb violence but advocated for a deadline to gang members. Several members also encouraged the creation of a Haitian army, noting that the constitution established both a police force and a national army. The deputies agreed to allocate funding for this force in the upcoming budget and asked the PM to present a plan to create an armed force. ¶7. (U) The members of the Senate defense, justice, and security commission submitted a proposal to the CSPN, recommending the creation of a Ministry of National Defense and several changes in the MINUSTAH mandate to facilitate the immediate preparation of this armed force. These recommendations included: -- a MINUSTAH contingent of instructors and experts with more specific qualifications to train the contingents of a national security and defense force; -- donation of basic military equipment to the defense and security units newly formed under the supervision of the PORT AU PR 00001514 002.2 OF 002 United Nations; -- withdrawal of MINUSTAH only when new Haitian forces are fully operational; -- establishment of a timetable for the training of new defense units by MINUSTAH; -- increased involvement of MINUSTAH in social and public works; -- Establishment by MINUSTAH of two new training centers for police in the North and the South. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: Following on Preval's much more aggressive public stance against the gangs (ref),the CSPN appearance appears to have mollified the parliamentary criticism of government inaction on crime that reached its peak during Annan's visit, August 4-5. In response to PM Alexis' statement in support of a gendarmerie and with a significant group in parliament, led by senator Youri Latortue, supporting re-establishment of the army, it appears that the parliament may now occupy itself with the a debate over the structure of a new armed force. Beyond the PM's statement of support, however, the government appears to have limited appetite or capability to work through the complexities of establishing a new force in the near term, particularly as it grapples daily with the armed-gang issue. Curbing violence in Port-au-Prince will continue to depend on MINUSTAH and the HNP. SANDERSON