HAITI MONTHLY: OCTOBER 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001782 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON HA KPKO SUBJECT: HAITI MONTHLY: OCTOBER 2007 PORT AU PR 00001782 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: This is a monthly report on various topics of interest which do not merit a full reporting cable. End summary. ¶3. (U) MINUSTAH DEPUTY RECALLED. Local press reports that the deputy MINUSTAH Force Commander, General Raul Gloodtdofsky of Uruguay, has been recalled by his own government after comments he reportedly made accusing the Uruguayan navy and air force of ''abandoning'' other sectors of Uruguay's armed forces in the context of investigations of past human rights abuses by the military. Apparently, the general's statements were interpreted as an implied criticism of Uruguayan President Vazquez's campaign of investigating past military abuses. ¶4. (U) HNP CHIEF GOES PUBLIC. Haitian National Police Director Mario Andresol has taken a more public profile on security issues in the final week of the month. The week of October 22, Andresol was filmed by Haitian National Television personally directing HNP operations against criminals targeting merchants in various commercial districts of the capital. Appearing before the Senate's Committee on Justice and Security October 26 with his boss, Secretary of State for Public Security Eucher-Luc Joseph, Andresol testified about recent stepped-up HNP operations against criminals preying on retailers in the capital. ¶5. (SBU) SRI LANKAN BLUE HELMETS GO HOME. MINUSTAH confirms that on November 1, 111 Sri Lankan MINUSTAH peacekeepers were repatriated on disciplinary grounds. 108 troops are accused of participating in sexual exploitation of a ''transactional nature'' and sexual involvement with under-aged minors. Among those repatriated are the battalion's second-in-command and two company commanders at the rank of major. Three officers are not among the accused, but are repatriated because the events occurred under their watch. No final reports have been released; the investigation is ongoing. MINUSTAH initiated an independent investigation after allegations began in August. Most of the alleged abuse occurred in the areas of Martissant, Jacmel and Leogane. According to the head of the UN investigation, SRSG Annabi presented the findings to President Preval and the PM last week with the recommendation that the troops be removed. Preval agreed the best route was to go public and send them home. Local human right's groups have expressed concern that the peacekeepers will not return home with impunity, but are legally processed and brought to justice if found guilty. ¶6. (U) OAS AND MINUSTAH CONVENE IN BUENOS AIRES. The Organization of American States (OAS) and nine Latin-American contributing countries to MINUSTAH met on October 27 to appeal to the international community to improve coordination and cooperation with Haiti to avoid undermining the gains made thus far in the Preval administration. Conference participants underscored that the international community must fulfill their financial commitments to Haiti with more timely disbursement of funds, and assist the government's capacity to fully absorb financial resources made available by the international community. ¶7. (U) U.S. BIOFUELS CONTRACTORS ROCK HAITI. The U.S. and Brazilian Embassies introduced the U.S. and Brazil biofuels feasibility teams, Winrock International and Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV),respectively, to the Government of Haiti (GoH) on October 9. Throughout a week-long visit, the USTDA-contracted Winrock team separately introduced their programs to several key ministries, including Agriculture and Environment. They also met with Senate President Joseph Lambert and over a dozen private sector representatives. Both the GoH and most private sector representatives are more interested in the indigenous oil-seed plant, Jatropha, locally referred to as ''gwo metsiyen'', as it is locally-produced and thought not to compete with food crops. Although there is no formal definition or standardized framework for biofuels, the team left Port-au-Prince relatively surprised at the amount of interest and potential PORT AU PR 00001782 002.2 OF 002 opportunities for Haiti. The Ministry of Agriculture's Secretary for State, Joanas Gue, is drafting a biofuels SIPDIS policy framework to share with the inter-ministerial biofuels taskforce. ¶8. (U) JATROPHA FOUNDATION LAUNCH. An international group of investors, including representatives from Jatropha Interbanx, S.A. (JTX) and supported by the Association of Brazilian Jatropha Growers, announced on October 25 the creation of the Jatropha Foundation. The Foundation will help Haiti develop its potential for large-scale cultivation of Jatropha, an indigenous oil-seed plant. The Foundation plans to support pilot projects of Jatropha Interbanx, S.A., to test and improve Jatropha yields and to facilitate the collection of existing seeds. Warren Jackman, president of the foundation, and Dr. Johanna Mendelson-Foreman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (supporter of the project) agree that renewable energy is key for Haiti's energy independence. The Jatropha Foundation is incorporated in Illinois, and plans to open offices in Illinois, Haiti and Washington, D.C. ¶9. (U) BEL AIR TO FIGHT VIOLENCE WITH ART. The Haitian-based Africa-America Foundation and the National Commission of Disarmament, Dismantlement, and Reinsertion (CNDDR) have formed a partnership to fight violence in the neighborhood of Bel Air. The project targets the neighborhood's youth and is focused on encouraging them to participate in art programs to discourage participation in gangs and violent crime. TIGHE