Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTAUPRINCE867
2007-05-11 20:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
MAY 4 REPATRIATON OF 195 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
how-toVZCZCXRO3005 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #0867 1312028 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 112028Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6064 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1533 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1352 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0807 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1218
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000867
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND 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 PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: MAY 4 REPATRIATON OF 195 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000867
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND 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 PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: MAY 4 REPATRIATON OF 195 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
1. On May 4, the US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred 195
Haitian migrants into the custody of the GoH in Cap Haitien,
Haiti. On May 1, the USCG intercepted a sail freighter
carrying 139 Haitian migrants 1.5 nautical miles off of Long
Island, Bahamas. On May 2, the USCG intercepted a sail
freighter carrying 56 Haitian migrants 37 nautical miles west
of Great Inagua, Bahamas. The migrants from the vessels
informed the USCG that they were bound for the United States.
The migrants on both vessels were leaving Haiti for economic
reasons. One migrant claimed to have paid 500 USD. It was
her fifth attempt to reach the U.S.
2. In a separate incident on the same day, Turks and Caicos
authorities rescued 78 Haitian migrants after their sail
freighter capsized while being escorted to Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos. Sixty-one migrants perished. Since the
survivors told authorities that roughly 160 migrants were on
the vessel, the authorities presume that the other 21 missing
migrants are dead.
3. Comment. The Haitian and international media released
reports and articles on the migrants' deaths which highlight
the authorities' and migrants' different accounts regarding
when and how the sail freighter capsized. Given this news
coverage, the GoH appears to be on the defensive, wanting to
be seen as a defender of the migrants' rights. End comment.
TIGHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND 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 PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: MAY 4 REPATRIATON OF 195 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
1. On May 4, the US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred 195
Haitian migrants into the custody of the GoH in Cap Haitien,
Haiti. On May 1, the USCG intercepted a sail freighter
carrying 139 Haitian migrants 1.5 nautical miles off of Long
Island, Bahamas. On May 2, the USCG intercepted a sail
freighter carrying 56 Haitian migrants 37 nautical miles west
of Great Inagua, Bahamas. The migrants from the vessels
informed the USCG that they were bound for the United States.
The migrants on both vessels were leaving Haiti for economic
reasons. One migrant claimed to have paid 500 USD. It was
her fifth attempt to reach the U.S.
2. In a separate incident on the same day, Turks and Caicos
authorities rescued 78 Haitian migrants after their sail
freighter capsized while being escorted to Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos. Sixty-one migrants perished. Since the
survivors told authorities that roughly 160 migrants were on
the vessel, the authorities presume that the other 21 missing
migrants are dead.
3. Comment. The Haitian and international media released
reports and articles on the migrants' deaths which highlight
the authorities' and migrants' different accounts regarding
when and how the sail freighter capsized. Given this news
coverage, the GoH appears to be on the defensive, wanting to
be seen as a defender of the migrants' rights. End comment.
TIGHE