Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE2471
2006-12-28 20:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

ARISTIDE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO HAITIANS

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5939
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #2471 3622000
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 282000Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4972
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1355
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1186
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0670
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1085
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

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