HAITI MONTHLY: POLITICAL, MAY 2009

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SUBJECT: HAITI MONTHLY: POLITICAL, MAY 2009


1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please
protect accordingly.


2. (U) Summary: This is a monthly report on various topics
of interest which do not merit a full reporting cable. End
summary.


3. (U) MEDICAL STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE. Medical and pharmacy
students at Haiti's State University have now protested for
over five weeks. Student demands included replacement of the
trustee board, restoration of classrooms and laboratories,
purchase of books, and rescheduling of cancelled courses.
The demonstration turned violent on May 25 when students
erected barricades in front of the School of Medicine and
Pharmacy and threw rocks and bottles at the Haitian National
Police and MINUSTAH's UNPOL officers. UNPOL administered
tear gas to contain the violence. University authorities
condemned the violence and invited the students to
participate in a dialogue with faculty members to discuss a
peaceful solution. Post will report on updates septel.


4. (U) SWEEPING CLEAN THE JUSTICE SECTOR CONTINUES. Minister
of Justice Jean-Joseph Exume relieved two more magistrates in
May for suspicion of corruption and other crimes including
money-laundering, drug trafficking, carrying illegal weapons,
and association with ''malfaiteurs'' (assorted criminal
elements). Judge Rocky Pierre (who may have fled the
country) of Saint-Marc has been implicated in the re-routing
and subsequent disappearance of a boatload of rice intended
to feed local residents after last year's deadly storm
season. Ramon Guillaume, known locally to St. Marc residents
as the ''Habeas Accomplice,'' is believed to have illegally
facilitated the release of alleged criminals in exchange for
material benefits. To date, Minister Exume has brought
disciplinary action against at least seven magistrates for
corruption.


5. (SBU) HIGH-PROFILE DEFECTIONS FROM PRO-GOVERNMENT LESPWA
COALITION. Four well-known legislators left the Lespwa
coalition during the month of May; a move that reflects some
dissatisfaction within the loose grouping of parties that
brought President Rene Preval to power in 2006. Those
renouncing their allegiance to the coalition include former
Chamber of Deputies President Eric Jean-Jacques, whose
sympathies lie with Fanmi Lavalas; new Vice Questeur of the
Chamber Stephen Benoit; and Hugues Celestin, a leader of an
ad hoc coalition of Deputies known as the Coalition of
Progressive Parliamentarians (CPP). Senator Jean-Hector
Anacacis, whose sharp criticisms of the April 19 election
results caused many to conclude he left the Lespwa platform,
subsequently announced he still considered himself a member
despite his ''significant concerns'' about the elections.
Despite these defections, Lespwa remains the largest party in
the Senate (7 of 18 currently occupied seats, counting
Anacacis) and Chamber of Deputies (17 of 99 seats) and stands
to pick up several additional Senate seats after the second
round of elections June 21.


6. (SBU) ADDITIONAL OFFICERS ELECTED IN THE CHAMBER OF
DEPUTIES. On the closing day of the first session of
Parliament May 11, the Chamber of Deputies elected two new
officers -- Vice-Questeur Stephen Benoit and Vice President
for Sessions Poly Faustin. Benoit, a former Second Secretary
of the Chamber and until recently a member of Lespwa, is a
member of the majority Coalition of Progressive
Parliamentarians (CPP) best known for shepherding the minimal
wage law through the Chamber of Deputies. He will assist
Questeur Chancer Cholzy with the financial and administrative
oversight of the Chamber of Deputies. Faustin, a member of
the smaller UPDN coalition and of the Fanmi Lavalas party,
defeated OPL's Lutherking Emmanuel Marcadieu with the help of
allies in the CPP. Faustin, as Vice President for Sessions,
will have the unenviable job of rounding up errant Deputies
to help the body muster a quorum. In the first three months
of the year, the Chamber only managed to hold 18 sessions and
at least 8 Deputies missed more than two-thirds of them.
SANDERSON