ARISTIDE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO HAITIANS

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002471 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS TO OAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM HA SUBJECT: ARISTIDE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO HAITIANS ¶1. (U) Former President Jean Bertrand Aristide sent his third Christmas message from South Africa to the Haitian people since his departure in February 2004. Aristide writes in "Daki," or Creole parables, to send messages to his partisans. This year, Aristide urged his followers to stay mobilized in order to fight the occupation of Haiti and encouraged continued duress (including kidnappings by some interpretations) as retaliation against his own kidnapping in ¶2004. He demanded freedom for all political prisoners and asked all supports who were fired from government jobs following his departure to demand their old positions back. ¶2. (U) The message also includes a series of threats against his traitors, including the current government. (Note: According to President Rene Preval's economic advisor Gabriel Verret, Preval took Aristide's repeated use of the word "treason" to be a reference to him (Preval). End note.) Aristide compared the coup d'etat against him to the assassination in 1806 of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's founding father. He points out that his return to Haiti will be difficult, but not impossible, if the proper measures are put in place. Only his return will bring peace to Haiti. ¶3. (SBU) Radio Inite (Creole for Unity) first read the message two weeks ago to its Haitian audience in Miami. (Note: Radio Inite is known to be partial to Aristide's political party, Fanmi Lavalas. According to a report by Haitian journalist Nancy Roc and Senator Jean Gabriel Bien Aime (FUSION-Cayes),Radio Inite announced the recent wave in kidnappings in Port-au-Prince three days before it began. Post cannot confirm this rumor. End note.) ¶4. (U) Comment: Haitians have put Aristide behind them. His message generated some press coverage but most people took little notice. Moreover, what some interpret as Aristide's call for continued kidnappings certainly would not win him many supporters in today's highly charged political climate. The population, regardless of political leaning, has no sympathy for any element responsible for the kidnappings, especially the most recent wave which targeted school children. TIGHE