BAKER CAMPAIGN WORKER SHOT AND KILLED

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000038 SIPDIS 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: DECL: 01/06/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC HA SUBJECT: BAKER CAMPAIGN WORKER SHOT AND KILLED Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. Griffiths for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On the evening of January 5, three unidentified assailants shot and killed Emmanual Corneille, Charles Henri Baker's campaign director for the South and Southwest. According to DCPJ Michel Lucius, Corneille was leaving his house in Petionville and was shot in his car after resisting robbery or a possible kidnapping attempt. HNP are still investigating the case, but Lucius believes the crime was not politically motivated. The Charge was hosting Baker at dinner when the latter received the news. Baker immediately speculated that Preval was behind the murder. ¶2. (C) Comment: Baker has repeatedly privately accused Preval of targeting his personnel throughout the campaign. However we see no evidence that Preval is orchestrating campaign violence nor does it make sense that he would target his main opponent while he still apparently holds a comfortable lead. Nevertheless, as the perception grows that the presidential race is boiling down to Preval/Baker/Manigat, Haitians are likely to assume that violence affecting any of these campaigns is politically motivated. We will continue to press Preval to denounce violence from any quarter. End comment. CARNEY