JUSTICE MINISTER ON JEAN-JUSTE, NEPTUNE AND ARMS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000037 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: PREL PGOV ASEC HA SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER ON JEAN-JUSTE, NEPTUNE AND ARMS SEIZURE ¶1. (SBU) In a January 5 meeting with Charge, interim Minister of Justice Henri Dorleans said he had no problem with imprisoned priest Gerard Jean-Juste receiving medical examinations from the doctor of his choice at Canape Vert hospital under MINUSTAH security. The minister also discussed releasing former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune to the Argentine military hospital. Dorleans, preoccupied by questions of security, requested U.S. Coast Guard support in patrolling the port of Cite Soleil. He expressed concern about the U.S. Rewards for Justice Program and the January 4 raid on a major Haitian commercial enterprise. He requested that weapons confiscated by the Rewards for Justice program be available for use by the Haitian National Police (HNP). Jean-Juste and Neptune -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Charge suggested that the IGOH offer Jean-Juste diagnosis at the Canape Vert Hospital in Port-au-Prince by a doctor of his choice under MINUSTAH security. Dorleans agreed with this proposition, reaffirming a long-standing IGOH offer for Jean-Juste to seek medical treatment at the private clinic used by embassy personnel. Dorleans confirmed that both the Prime Minister and the prison director supported this course of action. Regarding imprisoned former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, Dorleans told Charge that he would be offered transfer to the Argentine military hospital. (Septel has PMs remarks on these subjects) Automatic Weapons -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Dorleans brought up the issue of disarmament, noting the grave security situation in Haiti. He expressed concern over a January 4 HNP raid on the private firm, Haiti Terminal, that resulted in the seizure of numerous automatic weapons and a significant amount of ammunition. The raid was the result of a tip received by the embassy's Reward for Justice program. While Dorleans noted that all automatic weapons are illegal in Haiti, he said that Haitian enterprises needed a form of self-protection, given the weakness of the Haitian National Police. Dorleans said, "Though these arms are illegal, they are not the harmful weapons in Haiti," adding "seizing arms should be a program directed at the chimeres." Charge agreed and encouraged the IGOH to develop a policy to deal with the issue. Dorleans requested the confiscated arms should not be destroyed (the current procedure under the program) and should instead be made available to the HNP, which needs more arms to respond to the deteriorating security situation. Charge discouraged this possibility, noting that the HNP needs more training, not more weapons. In a separate conversation with DCM, HNP Police Chief Andresol expressed delight with the Haiti Terminal weapons seizure. Andresol said that the culture of impunity needed to end. These weapons are illegal and could eventually fall into the hands of the chimeres. Security in Cite Soleil -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Dorleans requested a U.S. patrol presence in the port surrounding Cite Soleil. Dorleans said that "Chimeres travel to Cite Soleil by motor boat, which is an uncontrolled point of access to the slum." Dorleans would like to eventually establish a Haitian boat patrol of the port and requested U.S. Coast Guard assistance in order to establish a strong presence. Dorleans also said MINUSTAH needs to be pressured to take stronger action. The HNP are not equipped to enter Cite Soleil, yet MINUSTAH has no successful plan of action. "The number of kidnappings continues to climb and Cite Soleil is the heart of the problem. This situation should not be tolerated." Dorleans added, "if the situation does not improve, we will not be able to have elections in Cite Soleil, unless it is for only one candidate." Elections -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On the topic of elections, Dorleans discussed the new elections timetable with the first-round on February 7. Dorleans said it is very important to have at least the first-round on this symbolic date, which marks the PORT AU PR 00000037 002 OF 002 anniversary of the end of the Duvalier dictatorship. Charge agreed that February 7 could be the most appropriate date for the first-round, given that the second round could not be held until March because of Carnival festivities. CARNEY