Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1814
2006-09-25 16:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

PARLIAMENTARIANS PRESS FOR THE RECONSTITUTION OF

Tags:  HA PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9269
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1814 2681637
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251637Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4147
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1237
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1079
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0587
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0998
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001814 

SIPDIS

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: DECL: 09/21/2016
TAGS: HA PGOV
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIANS PRESS FOR THE RECONSTITUTION OF
THE HAITIAN NATIONAL ARMY

REF: A. PAP 1514


B. PAP 1416

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001814

SIPDIS

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: DECL: 09/21/2016
TAGS: HA PGOV
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIANS PRESS FOR THE RECONSTITUTION OF
THE HAITIAN NATIONAL ARMY

REF: A. PAP 1514


B. PAP 1416


1. (U) A few parliamentarians are demanding that the
2006-2007 national budget, currently before the parliament
for approval, include means for the reconstitution of the
Haitian national army, an idea raised at the time the Prime
Minister appeared before the Senate and Chamber of Deputies
to discuss the recent rise in insecurity (ref A). The
parliamentarians who support an army say that it is needed to
curb the insecurity as the Haitian National Police (HNP) are
unable to do so. Supporters include Senator Youri Latortue,
a former member of the Haitian army and current president of
the defense, justice and police commission, and Deputy Steven
Benoit, president of the tourism commission and an outspoken
advocate on anti-corruption (ref B) (as well as Preval's
former brother-in-law). In a radio interview, Benoit argued
that the Constitution provided for an army and that the
budget must allocate funds for its re-establishment.


2. (SBU) Deputy Roland Lareche (Fusion),president of the
public security commission, on September 21 told poloff that
he does not believe that the debate over the army will
obstruct the budget process. In his opinion, &this is
simply politics.8 In the end, other issues, like the
decentralization of project funds, may prove to be larger
sticking points for the passage of the national budget.
According to Lareche, the country does not have the economic
capacity to support an army. He agrees that an army is
constitutionally mandated and would like to see one
reconstituted with the help of the international community,
but in the future. Lareche believes that the recreation of
the army requires a larger debate outside the context of the
budget because reconstitution of the army will have a large
psychological impact on society. The political class was a
victim of a former brutal army. He opines that an army at
this moment would simply add to law enforcement problems,
given that the HNP is implicated already in the security
problems that grip the capitol city.


3. (SBU) Senator Joseph Lambert, president of the Senate,
agrees with Lareche. Lambert acknowledged on September 25 to
poloff that "there is a popular consensus among the people.
An army is reminiscent of bloody coup d'etats. While
respecting the spirit of the constitution, we must find a
public security force that is neither the army nor the
gendarmerie."

Biographical Information
- - - - - - - -

4. (SBU) Lareche represents the Capotille district in the
North East department and has emerged as one of the chamber's
more energetic and outspoken members. 37-year old Lareche is
a former police officer who received some training in
Michigan. He is a lawyer by training with no political
background before his entry into national politics.
Recently, his parents were kidnapped in Cap Haitien. He
believes it was retribution for his firm stance against
dialogue with Port au Prince gang members.


5. (C) Comment: Benoit and Latortue make strange bedfellows.
Most assume that Latortue supports the restoration of the
army as a means to continue corrupt practices he engaged in
as an army officer. Benoit, who insisted to Emboffs that he
is the "anti-corruption deputy," presumably believes there is
political capital to be gained by beating the drum for the
military. However, to date, this issue has gained little
public traction and is not heavily covered by the press
except for the commentary of parliamentarians. End Comment.
TIGHE