Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1622
2006-08-31 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

PREVAL PRESSURES MINUSTAH FOR CLAMPDOWN

Tags:  PGOV MARR MOPS KCRM HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0576
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1622 2431607
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311607Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3929
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1205
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1047
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL//OLE/OI//
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001622 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2011
TAGS: PGOV MARR MOPS KCRM HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL PRESSURES MINUSTAH FOR CLAMPDOWN

REF: A. PAP 1571

B. PAP 1543

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas C. Tighe fo
r reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2011
TAGS: PGOV MARR MOPS KCRM HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL PRESSURES MINUSTAH FOR CLAMPDOWN

REF: A. PAP 1571

B. PAP 1543

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas C. Tighe fo
r reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) President Preval on August 31 convened meetings with
MINUSTAH leaders, including the SRSG and his military and
police commander, and Haitian security officials to press for
decisive action against gang leaders in Cite Soleil. A
MINUSTAH official who participated in the meeting told
Polcouns that evening that in response to Preval, MINUSTAH
would take additional measures to integrate the Haitian
police (HNP) into efforts to pacify the adjacent Cite
Militaire neighborhood and would bring in additional MINUSTAH
troops to patrol and establish "fixed points" on route
national 1. The MINUSTAH official related that Preval was
increasingly anxious to demonstrate results in combating the
Cite Soleil gangs, but that MINUSTAH's military commanding
General Elito did not feel prepared to immediately launch
operations in Cite Soleil, prefering to continue a phased
approach whereby MINUSTAH first secures Cite Militaire and
the main arteries bordering Cite Soleil, principally route
national 1 (ref B).


2. (C) Mission DAO confirmed the above account with MINUSTAH
military counterparts, noting that the Jordanian and Sri
Lankan contingents, which have responsibility for the areas
east and west of Port-au-Prince, respectively, had already
been brought back into the Cite Militaire area over the
previous two weeks. MINUSTAH sources added that reserve
Peruvian troops stationed at the edge of Cite Soleil would
also be enlisted in the effort.

3, (C) On the other side, a MINUSTAH informant and neighbor
of gang leader Evans Jeune reported that Evans and other gang
leaders expect that a pitched battle with MINUSTAH will come
shortly. To present a more heroic image to local residents
in anticipation of this battle, he has procured a horse on
which he periodically appears in the neighborhood. Gang
leaders have also increased spending within the neighborhood,
including distribution of ice cream. The informant also
claimed that he was also increasingly uncomfortable moving
around his neighborhood due to the presence of large numbers
of kidnapping victims.


4. (C) Comment. Polcouns' MINUSTAH interlocutor reflected
that Preval has finally asked MINUSTAH to do, "what we should
have been doing two years ago." The official cautioned,
however, that the phased approach might not be as rapid or
effective as Preval and others hoped. MINUSTAH has a huge
challenge to meet the demands now being made by Preval.

TIGHE