HNP DIRECTOR GENERAL'S MANDATE RENEWED BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000643 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, HEATHER WILD AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019 TAGS: SNAR PGOV PHUM KPKO HA SUBJECT: HNP DIRECTOR GENERAL'S MANDATE RENEWED BY PRESIDENT PREVAL Classified By: CDA Thomas C. Tighe, reason 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) On July 14, President Preval forwarded to the Haitian Senate the letter to renew the mandate of the Haitian National Police (HNP) Director General Mario Andresol for an additional three years. Andresol has already tasked his advisors (two of whom are funded by NAS) to begin preparing a three-year action plan for the HNP. This appointment is expected to be confirmed by the Senate without problems. The DG's previous three-year term expired on July 12. ¶2. (C) This mandate renewal represents the latest battle in a bitter power struggle within the Ministry of Justice for control of the HNP. Secretary of State for Public Security (SSPS) Luc Eucher Joseph had lobbied hard for selection of the current Inspector General (IG) Fritz Jean as DG. This exemplifies the on-going animosity between the SSPS and the DG over the SecState's persistent attempts to micromanage the HNP to Andresol's detriment. Under the previous Minister of Justice (MOJ),Eucher Joseph had hamstrung Andresol on daily management of the HNP. However, the current MOJ is a supporter of Andresol as is the Prime Minister and has cut the SSPS out of the management loop regarding the police. Well-placed MINUSTAH contacts indicated to the NAS Director that they expect the SSPS to soon be removed from that position and that the position will be abolished. That position had been created by an earlier MOJ administration but, unlike the Secretary of State for Justice, is not required under the legal structure of the Ministry of Justice. However, Eucher Joseph will not fade away, as he is liked by the President and is expected to be named to another position, possibly on some commission, preferably one without responsibilities related to the police. ¶3. (C) Comment: Post views the renewal of Andresol's mandate as the best possible result. As DG he has worked well with the USG on reform of the HNP and no other candidate was viewed by Post as viable or trustworthy. In addition, Andresol's MINUSTAH vetting file has just been forwarded to the MOJ and sources indicate he has passed vetting. Given the dubious character and connections of many of those surrounding the SSPS and the willingness of the IG to allow the return to work of HNP officers who are accused of corruption (including the Director of Administration who allegedly stole millions),the failure of that camp to succeed in wresting control of the HNP from Andresol bodes well for continuation of the HNP reform plan and cooperation with the USG on law enforcement issues, including counternarcotics and corruption. TIGHE