UN TAKING ACTION AGAINST INSECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002409 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND 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: 12/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM KPKO MARR ASEC MOPS HA SUBJECT: UN TAKING ACTION AGAINST INSECURITY REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 2385 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas C. Tighe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MINUSTAH plans to execute one targeted operation in Port-au-Prince every other day with the goal of arresting gang members, according to Mike Center (strictly protect), deputy chief of MINUSTAH's Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC). Center told Poloff on December 18 that JMAC is selecting targets throughout in Port-au-Prince anywhere they can find a good opportunity to strike, based on the intelligence available from their informants. Once targets are chosen, MINUSTAH's Rapid Intervention Team - consisting of Haitian National Police S.W.A.T., MINUSTAH S.W.A.T., and UNPOL Formed Police Units (FPUs) - needs just 48 hours notice to coordinate an operation. MINUSTAH has not set a timeframe for how long they will continue this approach. ¶2. (C) According to Center, on Friday, December 15 the Rapid Intervention Team killed two close associates of the notorious Cite Soleil gang leader Evans Jeune. In their next operation on Sunday, December 17, they successfully released three kidnapping victims. MINUSTAH is planning a third operation for Tuesday, December 19. They do not necessarily expect this type of tangible success from every operation, but are working under the theory that even attacking an empty house should prompt gang members to move around more, thereby giving away their whereabouts and making them easier to catch. ¶3. (C) Center stated that the impetus behind this new campaign is coming from director general of the HNP Mario Andresol and secretary of state for public security, Luc Eucher Joseph. Not knowing what Preval's position is on the operations, Center did not want to weigh in on any pressure the president may be putting on MINUSTAH (see reftel for report that Preval personally ordered the operations). SANDERSON