Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE2087
2006-10-31 15:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
CITE SOLEIL RESIDENTS PROTEST MINUSTAH
VZCZCXRO5314 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #2087 3041522 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311522Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4431 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1267 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1104 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0609 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1019 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002087
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 PHUM PREL HA
SUBJECT: CITE SOLEIL RESIDENTS PROTEST MINUSTAH
REF: A. PAP 02031
B. PAP 02065
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002087
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 PHUM PREL HA
SUBJECT: CITE SOLEIL RESIDENTS PROTEST MINUSTAH
REF: A. PAP 02031
B. PAP 02065
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified: protect
accordingly.
2. (U) Cite Soleil residents on October 29, conducted a
peaceful march protesting the presence of MINUSTAH, chanting
anti-MINUSTAH slogans as they walked by a MINUSTAH outpost in
the Port-au-Prince slum. Various news reports estimated the
crowd to range between "several thousand" and "several
hundreds." MINUSTAH sources estimate several hundred
participated. The protesters complained of recent deaths at
the hands of MINUSTAH on October 17 (only one death has been
confirmed ) see reftel A) and demanded MINUSTAH's withdrawal
from Haiti. The crowd scattered when MINUSTAH tossed two
smoke canisters into the street. Concurrently, the Paka
Tan-n (Creole for "We Can't Wait") movement of Lavalas
militants of representing Lavalas partisans dismissed from
state agencies by the interim government on October 27
threatened to launch "Operation Baghdad II," referring to
gang-initiated wave of violence in the late summer of 2004,
if the GoH did not restore the jobs of the dismissed
employees. (Note: Lavalas militants Rene Civil (currently in
prison) and Paul Renaud formed Paka Tan-n in May, but their
attempts since then to generate street protests have largely
failed. End Note.)
3. (U) In response to the Paka Tan-n's recent announcement,
GoH officials repeated standing policy that they were willing
to consider compensation for dismissed employees, but stated
that they will not pad the public sector with unqualified or
unneeded workers and further issued stern warning against
anyone fomenting disorder. The GoH also arranged for
MINUSTAH security officials to meet on the afternoon of
October 30 with Cite Soleil community leaders in order to
ease tension between the two sides.
4. (SBU) Comment. The anti-MINUSTAH students, the Cite Soleil
protesters, and Paka Tan-n represent distinct movements,
though their separate actions over the past week certainly
emboldened the aggressive elements within their ranks. GoH
and MINUSTAH response has been reasonable and measured so
far, and, as reported in ref B, we do not believe these
protests represent a broader groundswell among the
population. In the Haitian context, however, any hint of
disorder leads to heightened anxiety and widespread rumor
mongering. Both MINUSTAH and the GoH need to continue to
demonstrate firmness and restraint as they control
demonstrations and seek to address the legitimate demands of
the mass of Haitians to improve government performance and
improve social and economic conditions.
TIGHE
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 PHUM PREL HA
SUBJECT: CITE SOLEIL RESIDENTS PROTEST MINUSTAH
REF: A. PAP 02031
B. PAP 02065
1. This message is sensitive but unclassified: protect
accordingly.
2. (U) Cite Soleil residents on October 29, conducted a
peaceful march protesting the presence of MINUSTAH, chanting
anti-MINUSTAH slogans as they walked by a MINUSTAH outpost in
the Port-au-Prince slum. Various news reports estimated the
crowd to range between "several thousand" and "several
hundreds." MINUSTAH sources estimate several hundred
participated. The protesters complained of recent deaths at
the hands of MINUSTAH on October 17 (only one death has been
confirmed ) see reftel A) and demanded MINUSTAH's withdrawal
from Haiti. The crowd scattered when MINUSTAH tossed two
smoke canisters into the street. Concurrently, the Paka
Tan-n (Creole for "We Can't Wait") movement of Lavalas
militants of representing Lavalas partisans dismissed from
state agencies by the interim government on October 27
threatened to launch "Operation Baghdad II," referring to
gang-initiated wave of violence in the late summer of 2004,
if the GoH did not restore the jobs of the dismissed
employees. (Note: Lavalas militants Rene Civil (currently in
prison) and Paul Renaud formed Paka Tan-n in May, but their
attempts since then to generate street protests have largely
failed. End Note.)
3. (U) In response to the Paka Tan-n's recent announcement,
GoH officials repeated standing policy that they were willing
to consider compensation for dismissed employees, but stated
that they will not pad the public sector with unqualified or
unneeded workers and further issued stern warning against
anyone fomenting disorder. The GoH also arranged for
MINUSTAH security officials to meet on the afternoon of
October 30 with Cite Soleil community leaders in order to
ease tension between the two sides.
4. (SBU) Comment. The anti-MINUSTAH students, the Cite Soleil
protesters, and Paka Tan-n represent distinct movements,
though their separate actions over the past week certainly
emboldened the aggressive elements within their ranks. GoH
and MINUSTAH response has been reasonable and measured so
far, and, as reported in ref B, we do not believe these
protests represent a broader groundswell among the
population. In the Haitian context, however, any hint of
disorder leads to heightened anxiety and widespread rumor
mongering. Both MINUSTAH and the GoH need to continue to
demonstrate firmness and restraint as they control
demonstrations and seek to address the legitimate demands of
the mass of Haitians to improve government performance and
improve social and economic conditions.
TIGHE