Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PORTAUPRINCE983
2009-12-18 14:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
DAY OF INACTION: LAVALAS FAILS TO MOBILIZE ITS BASE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPU #0983 3521438 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181438Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0106 INFO HAITI COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0024
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000983
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM ASEC HA
SUBJECT: DAY OF INACTION: LAVALAS FAILS TO MOBILIZE ITS BASE
REF: 09 PAP 000996
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000983
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM ASEC HA
SUBJECT: DAY OF INACTION: LAVALAS FAILS TO MOBILIZE ITS BASE
REF: 09 PAP 000996
1. (SBU) A small group of Fanmi Lavalas (FL) supporters
gathered on December 16 for a "Day of Action" commemorating the
1991 exile and 1994 return of former president Jean-Bertrand
Aristide to Haiti. Protestors also used the occasion to demand the
return of Aristide and called for the ouster of current members of
the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). Although some protestors
were observed committing petty robberies after the march concluded,
the demonstration was smaller than anticipated and largely
uneventful.
2. (SBU) Protestors circled Port-au-Prince's Bel Air
neighborhood to drum up support before attending a press conference
held by Lavalas spokesperson Maryse Narcisse and then marching on
CEP offices in Delmas. Heard yelling, "Down with Preval!" and
"Today is our day we celebrate!" the crowd of approximately 150
persons marched around downtown before heading to the electoral
authority's offices. The Haitian National Police were prepared and
present for the event; there were no noteworthy police actions
against the marchers.
3. (SBU) Comment: This demonstration was markedly different
from the late 1990s when Lavalas could easily fill the streets with
thousands of protestors, and indicates the extent to which the
party has lost its power. Even two years ago, party organizers
could count on two thousand supporters to take to the streets.
Fanmi Lavalas has lost much of the popular support it enjoyed after
the fall of Jean Bertrand Aristide and the party suffers from
long-standing differences between its pro-Aristide and moderate
branches. Many former Lavalas candidates opted to register under
different political movements (Inite, Veye Yo and Lavni) in order
to participate in the elections. The CEP's successive exclusions
of FL from the legislative elections, combined with Preval's
co-opting several key Lavalas sympathizers into his political
movement (including Yves Cristalin and Marjorie Michel),has
significantly weakened the already struggling Fanmi Lavalas.
MERTEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM ASEC HA
SUBJECT: DAY OF INACTION: LAVALAS FAILS TO MOBILIZE ITS BASE
REF: 09 PAP 000996
1. (SBU) A small group of Fanmi Lavalas (FL) supporters
gathered on December 16 for a "Day of Action" commemorating the
1991 exile and 1994 return of former president Jean-Bertrand
Aristide to Haiti. Protestors also used the occasion to demand the
return of Aristide and called for the ouster of current members of
the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). Although some protestors
were observed committing petty robberies after the march concluded,
the demonstration was smaller than anticipated and largely
uneventful.
2. (SBU) Protestors circled Port-au-Prince's Bel Air
neighborhood to drum up support before attending a press conference
held by Lavalas spokesperson Maryse Narcisse and then marching on
CEP offices in Delmas. Heard yelling, "Down with Preval!" and
"Today is our day we celebrate!" the crowd of approximately 150
persons marched around downtown before heading to the electoral
authority's offices. The Haitian National Police were prepared and
present for the event; there were no noteworthy police actions
against the marchers.
3. (SBU) Comment: This demonstration was markedly different
from the late 1990s when Lavalas could easily fill the streets with
thousands of protestors, and indicates the extent to which the
party has lost its power. Even two years ago, party organizers
could count on two thousand supporters to take to the streets.
Fanmi Lavalas has lost much of the popular support it enjoyed after
the fall of Jean Bertrand Aristide and the party suffers from
long-standing differences between its pro-Aristide and moderate
branches. Many former Lavalas candidates opted to register under
different political movements (Inite, Veye Yo and Lavni) in order
to participate in the elections. The CEP's successive exclusions
of FL from the legislative elections, combined with Preval's
co-opting several key Lavalas sympathizers into his political
movement (including Yves Cristalin and Marjorie Michel),has
significantly weakened the already struggling Fanmi Lavalas.
MERTEN