USAID-MINUSTAH PARTNERSHIP ADVANCES PEACE IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000595

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: PGOV PHUM PREL PKAO MARR ASEC HA
SUBJECT: USAID-MINUSTAH PARTNERSHIP ADVANCES PEACE IN
HAITI'S SLUMS

REF: A. 05 PAUP 2493

B. 05 PAUP 2239


1. This message is sensitive but unclassified: please protect
accordingly.


2. (U) Summary. This message summarizes the Haiti Transition
Initiative (HTI),the USAID sponsored program to reduce
violence and restore stability in Port au Prince's most
volatile slums. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(OTI) implements HTI through the International Organization
for Migration (IOM). HTI has achieved initial success in
several areas, and the program should serve as one possible
model for a refocused and expanded effort to combat gangs and
improve living conditions throughout the sprawling Cite
Soleil slum, which has become the epi-center of gang activity
that destabilizes the entire capital. HTI directly addresses
the goal of reducing gang violence, which was identified as
one of two critical measures to promote Haiti's transition to
democracy. Moreover, President-elect Preval has identified
improvement of conditions and the establishment of order in
Cite Soleil as one of his most pressing priorities. The
long-term solution to criminality in Cite Soleil is robust
and community-based law-enforcement that goes well beyond
military patrols and checkpoints. Nevertheless, the
practices that HTI employed in Bel Air in developing
community trust and support would apply in Cite Soleil. End
Summary.

HTI Funds Programs in Bel Air
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3. (U) Post reprogrammed USD 3 million in FY 05 Economic
Support Funds and added USD 2.5 of supplemental funding to
fund HTI community programs. Post had originally allocated
the ESF for violence reduction programs run by MINUSTAH's
Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration (DDR) program,
but shifted strategy when it became clear that the DDR
program was ineffective. The program took hold in May 2005
when HTI, at the suggestion of community leaders in Bel Air,
reconstructed a public performance center that had been
burned to the ground after a dispute between pro-Lavalas
supporters and the HNP. The reconstruction of this public
performance center built confidence between community leaders
and HTI program managers. The community leaders developed
additional proposals for HTI funded programs, including the
renovation of roads and "Play for Peace" summer youth
activities.

Gang-Related Killings Outrage Community Leaders
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4. (SBU) Twice thoughout the summer, gang members targeted
"Play for Peace" activities. Community leaders were outraged
and responded by giving HTI the names and locations of the
gang members responsible for the killings. HTI approached
the Brazilian MINUSTAH CIVPOL commander for the neighborhood
with the information. At first, he hestitated to intervene
questioning that the allegations that the gang members werer
targeting the summer camp activities. UN headquarters in New
York applied pressure to MINUSTAH to provide security for the
programs. The Brazilian's were receptive to advice from
headquarters; it was at this point that 'the carrot started
speaking to the stick' according to HTI program assistant
Stephanie Broughton.

Enter MINUSTAH
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5. (SBU) For each target neighborhood, HTI gave MINUSTAH
maps and briefing papers describing the program, the type and
location of projects, current security issues within the
community, and opportunities for collaboration They used
this information to provide a strong security presence in
these areas, but continued to focus on providing a security
presence near HTI-funded programs and projects. Not only did
MINUSTAH now have the intelligence it previously lacked, but
also MINUSTAH had confidence and support of the communities

PORT AU PR 00000595 002 OF 002


they were supposed to protect.


6. (SBU) As the program progressed, Brazilian MINUSTAH
forces set up a new base in the Fort National community of
Bel Air. HTI followed and started working with community
leaders to rebuild roads, create sidewalks, and repair canals
while MINUSTAH established regular patrols. MINUSTAH forces
living in the neighborhood also suggested projects.
Community leaders and HTI program implementers noticed a
change in the Fort National neighborhood: gang-members were
losing power and were unable to intimidate the communities as
employment became available, structural improvements became
evident, and a security presence became strong. According to
HTI, "People were working, MINUSTAH was patrolling, and gangs
could no longer intimidate the population."


7. (SBU) Emboldened by the sight of MINUSTAH security
forces, more communities in Bel Air requested HTI funded
programs and a stronger security presence. In Autumn 2005,
community leaders from Ti Cheri, a Bel Air community
bordering Fort National, asked Fort National residents how
they too could have the HTI/MINUSTAH support for their
community. Fort National community leaders introduced
leaders from Ti Cheri to HTI and HTI started on similar
programs in the new neighborhood.


8. (U) At this point, HTI declared its Bel Air program a
success. One neighborhood after another had requested an
HTI-MINUSTAH presence. Areas off limits even to MINUSTAH
forces six months prior, were accessible. In response to the
disappearance of the gangs, community leaders from a Bel Air
neighborhood called Gwo Woche (which means big rock in Creole
and was named after a large rock where gang members would
hold voodoo ceremonies before they would commit crimes)
requested that HTI fund a basketball court to be built on top
of the place where the rock stood.

Bel Air Residents Declare Peace
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9. (U) Bel Air residents requested a holiday soccer
tournament in December 2005. HTI agreed and suggested the
usual Play for Peace games. Bel Air community leaders
disagreed with the name. "No," they told HTI, "we already
have peace; let's call this the Tournament for
Reconciliation." The community asked Brazilian MINUSTAH
forces to play in an exposition match.

Next Step: Cite Soleil
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10. (SBU) HTI already implements projects in Cite Soleil yet
suffers from a lack of cooperation with MINUSTAH. According
to Broughton, "The Brazilians in Bel Air have been wonderful,
but the Jordanians in Cite Soleil are not supportive of our
proposed cooperation." HTI anticipates a rotation of
MINUSTAH forces and hopes that it will bring further
opportunity for cooperation. For the time being, HTI and the
Brazilian MINUSTAH contingent have started projects along the
road between Bel Air and Cite Soleil, which is also the line
between Brazilian and Jordanian control. The plan is to
achieve the same domino effect that traversed Bel Air by
showing community leaders on one side of the street success
on the other side of the street.

Comment
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11. (U) The main lesson learned from Bel Air is that the
involvement and desire of the community is the most important
factor in the three part equation. The other two parts of
the equation are programs, that bring jobs and structural
improvements to the community, and security, which reassures
the community that it will not come under attack by those
'spoilers' who want to maintain chaos.
SANDERSON