Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1552
2006-08-22 16:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
BORDER CROSSING WITH DR STILL CLOSED
how-toVZCZCXRO7758 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #1552 2341614 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221614Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3857 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1191 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1033 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0560 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0980
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001552
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB.IFD; EB/BTA
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
TREASURY FOR JEFF LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: BORDER CROSSING WITH DR STILL CLOSED
REF: A. PAP 1417
B. PAP 1543
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001552
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB.IFD; EB/BTA
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
TREASURY FOR JEFF LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: BORDER CROSSING WITH DR STILL CLOSED
REF: A. PAP 1417
B. PAP 1543
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified ) please
protect accordingly.
2. (SBU) Presidential advisor Robert Manuel on August 19 told
the Ambassador that the situation at the Malpasse border
crossing, the nearest to the Dominican Republic from
Port-au-Prince, had become intolerable, and that the GoH
would take steps within days to re-take control of the border
crossing from striking truck drivers. The strikers, are
demanding the removal of Customs Director Jeantal Clervil
who, since his appointment, has moved to collect lawful
customs duties of imported goods (reftel). Although the
government has increased the personal security of Clervil, it
has otherwise until now failed to take firm steps to impose
order since the strike began on July 10. Manuel said that
the GoH would dispatch Haitian agents (presumably HNP,
including some special units),rather than MINUSTAH forces.
3. (SBU) Dominican Ambassador to Haiti Jose Serulle Ramira
insisted to the Ambassador that the media had misquoted
remarks attributed to him on August 17 that Dominican
authorities had officially closed the border crossing.
Foreign Minister Jean Renald Clerisme confirmed to the
Ambassador on August 18 that although the border remained
officially open on both sides, the strikers continued to
effectively block all commercial traffic.
4. (U) At an AMCHAM meeting on August 16, an AMCHAM member
told poloff that she had tried to cross the border over the
weekend in order to take her son to school in Santa Domingo.
However, individuals in Fonds-Parisien, a neighboring border
town, attacked her car with bottles and rocks and she was
forced to turn around. However, she stressed (and was
supported by her other AMCHAM colleagues) that she supported
Clervil and thought that the executive should not give in to
the strikers' request to remove the newly-hired Clervil.
5. (SBU) Comment: As noted in reftel, despite the capital
city's pre-occupation with gang violence the border impasse
represents an equally serious long-term threat to the GoH's
ability to establish functional governance countrywide, in
addition to critical customs revenue the GoH loses each day
the border remains impassable. Government inaction thus far
looks to be additional evidence that the Preval government
has difficulty in dealing with more than one priority at a
time. Now that the GoH appears to have settled on a gang
policy (ref B),we will see if the GoH can turn its
attention and follow-up on Manuel's tough talk. End Comment.
SANDERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB.IFD; EB/BTA
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
TREASURY FOR JEFF LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: BORDER CROSSING WITH DR STILL CLOSED
REF: A. PAP 1417
B. PAP 1543
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified ) please
protect accordingly.
2. (SBU) Presidential advisor Robert Manuel on August 19 told
the Ambassador that the situation at the Malpasse border
crossing, the nearest to the Dominican Republic from
Port-au-Prince, had become intolerable, and that the GoH
would take steps within days to re-take control of the border
crossing from striking truck drivers. The strikers, are
demanding the removal of Customs Director Jeantal Clervil
who, since his appointment, has moved to collect lawful
customs duties of imported goods (reftel). Although the
government has increased the personal security of Clervil, it
has otherwise until now failed to take firm steps to impose
order since the strike began on July 10. Manuel said that
the GoH would dispatch Haitian agents (presumably HNP,
including some special units),rather than MINUSTAH forces.
3. (SBU) Dominican Ambassador to Haiti Jose Serulle Ramira
insisted to the Ambassador that the media had misquoted
remarks attributed to him on August 17 that Dominican
authorities had officially closed the border crossing.
Foreign Minister Jean Renald Clerisme confirmed to the
Ambassador on August 18 that although the border remained
officially open on both sides, the strikers continued to
effectively block all commercial traffic.
4. (U) At an AMCHAM meeting on August 16, an AMCHAM member
told poloff that she had tried to cross the border over the
weekend in order to take her son to school in Santa Domingo.
However, individuals in Fonds-Parisien, a neighboring border
town, attacked her car with bottles and rocks and she was
forced to turn around. However, she stressed (and was
supported by her other AMCHAM colleagues) that she supported
Clervil and thought that the executive should not give in to
the strikers' request to remove the newly-hired Clervil.
5. (SBU) Comment: As noted in reftel, despite the capital
city's pre-occupation with gang violence the border impasse
represents an equally serious long-term threat to the GoH's
ability to establish functional governance countrywide, in
addition to critical customs revenue the GoH loses each day
the border remains impassable. Government inaction thus far
looks to be additional evidence that the Preval government
has difficulty in dealing with more than one priority at a
time. Now that the GoH appears to have settled on a gang
policy (ref B),we will see if the GoH can turn its
attention and follow-up on Manuel's tough talk. End Comment.
SANDERSON