HAITI MONTHLY: POLITICAL, APRIL 2009

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000489 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, DIANNE GRAHAM AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV HA PREL KCOR SUBJECT: HAITI MONTHLY: POLITICAL, APRIL 2009 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: This is a monthly report on various political topics of interest which do not merit a full reporting cable. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) VISIT BY BRAZIL MINISTERS OF DEFENSE/CHIEFS OF STAFF. During a visit the week of April 27, the Brazilians were accompanied by their Bolivian counterparts and a number of other Brazilian generals. The Brazilian Ambassador told the press that the Brazilians discussed a project to build a hydroelectric dam in the Artibonite. This is actually a project the Brazilians promised during the visit of President Lula da Silva in 2008 but which has yet to be started. President Preval told the press after the visit that Brazil is now moving MINUSTAH away from a purely security mission to concentrate on socio-economic development. In reality, the Brazilian contingent in MINUSTAH will remain focused on security. Any military component associated with building a dam would be in complement to MINUSTAH. ¶4. (SBU) TERM LENGTH OF MAYORS. Haiti's mayors have threatened to strike if their terms are truncated to less than four years, which would happen if municipal elections are held on time in November of this year. While the beginning date of the terms of national Senators and Deputies is set by the constitution, that of mayors is determined by the electoral law. Since the previous municipal elections were held late, municipal elections held at the end of 2009 would result in a term barely longer than three years. Senate President Kely Bastien has promised to take up a special law to address this anomaly. ¶5. (SBU) PM DEMANDS CHANGE. The week of April 13, Prime Minister Pierre-Louis demanded in public that Haiti be removed from the ''red list'' of countries to which the State Department warns to defer nonessential travel. The PM claimed that this deters investment in Haiti. ¶6. (U) GOH COMBATS JUDICIAL CORRUPTION. The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) on April 9 lauded recent GOH efforts to combat judicial corruption. In early April, the Ministries of Justice and Public Security sanctioned five magistrates for presumed involvement in corruption. Three magistrates lost their mandates; two others were placed on suspension. Cases against the magistrates involved favorable land disposition cases made without following proper procedures and allegations of high-level fraud. RNDDH praised the efforts and continues to advocate for the opening of an independent Superior Council of Judicial Power. ¶7. (U) USNS COMFORT BRINGS COMFORT. The USNS Comfort ''Continuing Promise'' mission conducted humanitarian medical assistance in Haiti from April 9-20. The mission succeeded in serving 7,361 patients (medical and dental care),176 surgeries aboard the ship, and conducted 4,484 medical educational sessions. SANDERSON