HAITIAN PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS CALL FOR GENERAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000029

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD
WHA/EPSC
INR/IAA/MAC
S/CRS
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAN/WH/OLAC (SMITH, S.)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ELAB EFIN HA
SUBJECT: HAITIAN PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS CALL FOR GENERAL
STRIKE DUE TO RISING INSECURITY



1. (U) This cable is Sensitive but Unclassified.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Leaders of the Haitian business
community told Charge that they would call a general strike
for Monday, January 9 to protest MINUSTAH,s ineffectiveness
in countering the recent upswing of violence and kidnappings.
Representatives will also meet with UNSRSG Juan Gabriel
Valdez to pressure him to take action against the criminal
gangs. They also pleaded with the Charge for more ammunition
for the police. Charge told the group to be ready to assist
Cite Soleil immediately after a MINUSTAH operation, if it
were to take place, and countered that the problem of the
police was not a a lack of ammunition, but a lack of skills
and training. Clearly, the private sector is worried about
the recent upsurge in violence. END SUMMARY.

Private Sector Reps Meet with Charge
- - - - -

3. (SBU) Charge met January 4, at their request, with
leaders of the Haitian business community to discuss the
recent deterioration of the security situation in
Port-au-Prince. Representing the private sector were
Reginald Boulos, President of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, Rene-Max Auguste, President of the American
Chamber of Commerce, Gladys Coupet, President of the bankers
association, and Carl Auguste Boisson, President of the
petroleum distributors association.

General Strike to Protest MINUSTAH Ineffectiveness
- - - - -

4. (SBU) Reggie Boulos informed the Charge that the leaders
of the private sector would call for a general strike on
Monday January 9 to protest MINUSTAH,s ineffectiveness in
countering the recent upswing of violence and kidnappings.
Boulos emphasized that the strike was not aimed at the
international donor community in general, but at MINUSTAH
specifically. The strike will be a one-day warning strike.
If the situation does not improve further strikes of an
indeterminate length of time will be forthcoming.

Pressure on Valdes to Take Action
- - - - -

5. (SBU) Representatives of the private sector will also
meet one-on-one with UNSRSG Juan Gabriel Valdez to pressure
him personally to take action against the criminal gangs in
Cite Soleil. Boulos argued that MINUSTAH could take back the
slum if it were to work systematically, section by section,
in securing the area. Immediately after MINUSTAH secured
Cite Soleil, Boulos said that he and other groups were
prepared to go in immediately with social programs and social
spending. NOTE: Boulos has been active in providing social
programs in Cite Soleil for many years. END NOTE.


6. (SBU) The Charge cautioned that such an operation would
inevitably cause unintended civilian casualties given the
crowded conditions and flimsy construction of tightly packed
housing in Cite Soleil. Therefore, the private sector
associations must be willing to quickly assist in the
aftermath of such an operation, including providing financial
support to families of potential victims. Boulos agreed.

The Police Need Ammo
- - - - -

7. (SBU) The group also pleaded with the Charge for the USG
to provide ammunition to the police. Boulos and Auguste said
that the police had told them that they were unable to mount
operations against the criminal gangs because of a lack of
ammunition. Boulos began reading off a specific list of
needed ammunition, but Charge pointed out that it was not a
question of lack of ammunition, but a lack of training of the
police officers. Without proper training the HNP could not
effectively use additional ammunition, and in any event
ammunition was readily available in the Dominican Republic.
Boulos and Auguste conceded the point.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: The deteriorating security situation in
the capital has the private sector worried. On top of the
political and personal impact of the kidnappings and
violence, the situation will start to have an economic impact
if employees and customers stay at home and businesses start
to close their doors. As if to drive home the point, during
the meeting automatic weapons fire could clearly be heard in
the background as the private sector representatives made
their concerns known. The Embassy EAC decided that the
Embassy will remain open on Monday with liberal leave, giving
local employees the ability to decide to stay home. END
COMMENT.


CARNEY