UNREST IN LES CAYES: MINUSTAH OFFICER FATALLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000536 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: UNREST IN LES CAYES: MINUSTAH OFFICER FATALLY SHOOTS ASSAILANT APRIL 4 REF: PORT AU PRINCE 00532 Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson. Reason: E.O. 12958 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) MINUSTAH sources reported that at approximately 0700 local April 4, MINUSTAH military contingents, while clearing roadblocks erected overnight by protesters, came under attack by rioters throwing rocks. This occured in the southern Haitian city of Les Cayes, site of rioting yesterday, April ¶3. (Note: the Force Commander had travelled to Les Cayes the previous day to assess the situation on the ground. See reftel. End note) MINUSTAH fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd. In what was described as a defensive action, a MINUSTAH military officer fatally shot one of the Haitian assailants. Deputy UNSRSG Luis da Costa told the Ambassador April 4 that he wa told that there some of the crowd was armed and threatening the MINUSTAH contingent. Several MINUSTAH sources say that MINUSTAH patrols in the course of the rioting in Les Cayes have come under weapons fire. ¶2. (C) Da Costa told Ambassador that MINUSTAH will be investigating this incident and they intend to treat it as strictly a MINUSTAH issue. With SRSG Annabi on his way to New York, Da Costa is heading to Les Cayes this morning. He has asked that all information be closely held as MINUSTAH investigates and that we make no public statements at this time.. SANDERSON