ATTACKS ON JUSTICE MINISTER GENERATES PUSH-BACK

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000893 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: ATTACKS ON JUSTICE MINISTER GENERATES PUSH-BACK REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 869 ¶B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 848 ¶1. The chamber of deputies' special committee of special enquiry on May 11 released a report concluding that Justice Minister Rene Magloire had lied about summoning the deceased judge Hughes St. Pierre to Port-au-Prince. The committee's report cited six interviews with St. Pierre's family members and colleagues in Gonaives who claimed that St. Pierre told them that he was traveling to Port-au-Prince at the minister's request. In response, Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis denied that St. Pierre's death had any connection to the La Scierie case (reftels) and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the judge's death. Other deputies criticized the manner in which the special committee released its findings. Laurore Edouard (UNION) declared that the special committee does not have official standing since the procedures to appoint such a committee were never initiated in the lower chamber. Eloune Doreus (OPL) concurred that an inquiry may be appropriate, but insisted that the special committee cannot be seen as an official organ of the lower house. ¶2. Comment. Apart from trying to link the judge's death to a government conspiracy to absolve the La Scierie defendants, Youri Latortue and his allies in the Senate appear to be using this opportunity to derail justice reform legislation. Latortue has already publicly stated that the minister's proposed legislation is "chaotic," and is reportedly preparing an alternative proposal. (Post will report fully on the status of justice reform septel) Under the current circumstances, Magloire is unlikely to appear anytime soon before the parliament for any reason, whether to answer questions relating to St. Pierre or to push for reform. In the meantime, if his opponents can damage his credibility, that damage is likely to rub off on his proposed legislation as well. End comment. SANDERSON