PREVAL DELIVERS ANTI-CORRUPTION ADDRESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000982 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCRM ECON KJUS HA SUBJECT: PREVAL DELIVERS ANTI-CORRUPTION ADDRESS ¶1. This message is senstive but unclassified -- protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) Introduction and Comment. President Preval used the occasion of Flag Day, May 18, to proclaim a government campaign against corruption. Speaking in front of the palace to a gathering of dignitaries, Preval asked designated members of the cabinet to stand up as he identified their roles in fighting corruption and ensuring the sanctity of government. Since his speech, Preval's initiative has been one of the dominant subjects in public political discourse, with public reaction almost entirely positive. Preval's government, in most cases with the prodding of the international community, is in the early stages of formulating various initiatives aimed at tackling corruption, including police and justice reform, customs reform, and administrative reform. What remains to be seen is whether Preval's follow-up on his announced "war on corruption" can turn these disparate initiatives into a coherent policy. In typical Haitian fashion, commentators and participants in Haiti,s lively call-in and chat radio shows attribute recent criminal activity, including such disparate events as the murder of Haitian actor Francois Latour and renewed gang activity in Martissant, to a concerted effort by criminals to resist Preval,s initiative. A translation of Preval,s address, originally delivered in Creole, follows. ¶3. (U) Begin text: Haitian People Our national anthem says: No traitors in our ranks! We must not have traitors in our midst! The traitors of 1804 were against liberty; the traitors of 2007 are against equality; because our ancestors, mission was to fight for liberty; our own mission is to fight for equality. The battle for equality is a battle for all kids to go to school. It,s a battle for all to find health; it,s a battle to help the small peasants, for the merchants to afford credit. The battle for equality requires the State to have the means it needs without having to beg all the time! For the State to have the proper means, people have to stop stealing from the public treasury. All those involved in corruption are traitors against the battle for equality. This year is the year for all out war against corruption. The battle against corruption is the battle for all who want to do business, those who want to invest, and those who want to find equal conditions to be able to do all that. We will fight corruption in Customs, in DGI, in the HNP, in the Justice system, in City Halls, in the Parliament, in the Ministries, in the Palace. This year we will fight a relentless battle against all forms of corruption. Haitian People: If there,s corruption, we cannot have investments. If there are no investments, we cannot create jobs and there is no work. There is no small corruption or big corruption. There is corruption, period. Store owners involved in contraband, customs employees that are taking bribes, people that will not pay their taxes, DGI employees that are taking bribes so that tax payers will avoid paying taxes, bankers that are using the money of small customers, policemen that are taking money from drivers instead of giving them tickets, civil servants who demand their cut when they are purchasing for the State, judges that are taking money to free presumed criminals. There is no small corruption and there is no big corruption. There is corruption, period. This year we will fight corruption with all we have. ULCC, UCREF, Court des Comptes, National Commission of Public Markets, Ministry of Justice, Judges of the Civil Court, State Prosecutors, HNP, DGI, Customs, be prepared!! This is the year we are declaring war against corruption for equality. We are the first soldier in that war. It will be a hard battle to fight. But it is a just battle. Because it is PORT AU PR 00000982 002 OF 002 a just battle, we will win that battle. We are soldiers on the first line of battle. But the Government will stand by us. The Haitian People will back us up. We will not lose this battle, because it is a battle for life. Haitian People, Let us unite against corruption! Let unite against corruption for equality! Equality that will lead to the land of Fraternity! Thank you End text. SANDERSON