MUTINY IN THE NATIONAL PENITENTIARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001810 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 WHA/CAR PLEASE PASS TO USOASWHA INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, DON STOLWORTHY, ANGELIC YOUNG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM KJUS SOCI SNAR HA SUBJECT: MUTINY IN THE NATIONAL PENITENTIARY REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 1695 PORT AU PR 00001810 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: A riot ensued in the National Penitentiary on November 7 after Chief Prosecutor Claudy Gassant authorized the release of 121 long-serving male prisoners. The riot was quelled in under two hours by the Haitian National Police (HNP) with the assistance of a Nigerian Formed Police Unit (FPU) of MINUSTAH. Although there are conflicting reports about what sparked the riot, Haitian authorities and MINUSTAH confirm that the release of the detainees was the initial catalyst. It is evident, however, that the severe conditions in the men,s penitentiary and the lack of due process for detainees within the Haitian judicial system are the larger contributing factors (reftel). The extent of the damage within the prison is still being assessed. (End Summary.) ¶3. (U) Though an official investigative report has not yet been released by the HNP or MINUSTAH, contacts from both sources reveal that the riot occurred for two reasons: reaction to the sudden release of 121 prisoners on humanitarian grounds; and news of the transference of prison king-pin Carl Longchamps, aka "Zulu," to another prison. REASON #1: HUMANITARIAN RELEASES SPARK ANGER -------------- ¶4. (U) On International Prisoners' Day, October 28, Chief Prosecutor Claudy Gassant publicly announced that cases of prisoners in the National Penitentiary were under review and a number of prisoners would likely be released on humanitarian grounds. The men, Gassant said, had either been held in prison too long without trial or held in custody beyond their original terms due to bureaucratic delays within the prison system. On November 8, 73 out of 121 detainees authorized for release were freed from the prison, as Gassant promised. ¶5. (U) Port-au-Prince Police Commissar Michael Ange Gedeon told Emboff November 9 that the release of the prisoners triggered immediate outrage among the approximately 2900 remaining inmates, angered that their cases had not yet been reviewed. The prisoners filed out of their cells en masse, demanding the same treatment. Robinson Cadet, U.S. Corrections Advisor to UNPOL, told Emboff on November 8 that the riot began in a cell-block known as the "Brick" and quickly spread to the "Titanic" cellblock. Dozens of incensed prisoners attempted to attack the prison staff, scale the prisons walls and climb to the roof in an effort to escape. Cadet, part of the UNPOL security team located on the perimeter of the building during the mutiny, said at least one prison staff member and several prisoners were injured. Media captured images of prisoners on the roof throwing anything they could get their hands on, including empty bottles, cans, clothing, papers and plastic containers. Inmates also started a fire, which was quickly extinguished. (Note: As the investigation is still in process, the extent of the damage from the fire is not yet confirmed. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) A high-level MINUSTAH contact who shared information to Embassy NAS Director as the situation unfolded November 8 reported having immediately authorized the Nigerian Formed Police Unit (FPU) to assist with security on the perimeter of the prison at the request of the HNP. Additionally, he deployed the U.S. UNPOL Hostage Negotiation Team from the HNP Anti-kidnapping unit to go to the prison due to a rumor that a Red Cross worker may have been taken hostage. (Note: the hostage rumor was determined to be false after the riot was quelled. End note.) The HNP also deployed CIMO, a special riot control unit, to the scene. The National Penitentiary Administration (APENA),a special unit of the HNP assigned to prison security, remained inside the prison and succeeded in putting down the revolt in under two hours without additional force. PORT AU PR 00001810 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Commissar Gedeon, in charge of coordinating HNP and MINUSTAH security on the penitentiary,s perimeter, told Emboff that while on location, he heard shots fired inside the prison, but since his team was not permitted to enter the compound, he could not determine whether there were fatalities. A MINUSTAH official also told NAS Director that at least two weapons were reportedly found that had been smuggled into the prison. REASON #2: PRISON KING-PIN TRANSFER -------------- ¶8. (U) Commissar Gedeon told Emboff on November 8 the riots also stemmed from anger over the fact that prison king-pin Carl Longchamps (reportedly serving a life sentence) was transferred to a different prison for administrative reasons. According to the HNP, Longchamps has long been suspected of drug activities and smuggling contraband into the prison. Gedeon said that loyalists to Longchamps took advantage of the anger sparked by the prison releases to stage a protest against his departure. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: The HNP and MINUSTAH have yet to report which of the two widely circulated reasons about how and why the rebellion started they support. Post,s initial impression, however, is that the lack of a legal basis for the prolonged detentions of many inmates, coming on top of severe overcrowding and generally abysmal prison conditions, helped produce deep discontent that came to a boil when certain inmates were released. MINUSTAH has reported, however, that the riot did not come as a surprise, as violence has been anticipated, and UNPOL had recently received reports of arms smuggling into the prison. U.S. Corrections Advisor Cadet and the HNP have indicated that they will share the results of the investigation with post as soon as it is completed. SANDERSON