TOGETHER WE'RE STRONG: LAVALAS, "QUALITY ROOSTER," AND SOME

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SUBJECT: TOGETHER WE'RE STRONG: LAVALAS, "QUALITY ROOSTER," AND SOME
TROUBLING DETAILS

REF: 09 PAP 00983; 04 PAP 001109

CLASSIFIED BY: KMERTEN, Ambassador, Department of State, Executive
Office; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) Summary: Six days after the poorly-attended Lavalas
demonstration (ref A),several high-profile and hard-line former
Lavalas party members announced that they would support a new
platform, "Ansamn Nou Fo" ("Together We're Strong," in Haitian
Creole) in the upcoming 2010 parliamentary elections. A small
number of candidates have previous involvement in violent
activities. A minor controversy has arisen over Ansamn Nou Fo's
(ANF) attempts to use an old Lavalas symbol, "Coq QualitC)"
("Quality Rooster," in Haitian Creole) as its pictographic symbol
in the race for parliament.



REPORTS OF THE DEATH, ETC...LAVALAS RIDES AGAIN

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2. (C) Numerous Lavalas politicians have left the party to
participate in the upcoming elections under other political banners
including Lavni, Veye Yo, and President Preval's Inite party (ref
A). The emergence of Ansamn Nou Fo has led many observers to
believe this new party will be the vehicle used by Lavalas to keep
the movement alive. The new party was included as one of two
"regroupings" on the Provisional Electoral Council's list of
approved political parties, but remained relatively quiet until
after the December 19 Narcisse-led Lavalas demonstration. ANF had a
brief reputation as a party for independent candidates until
December 21, when national television TeleHaiti broadcast a press
conference held by former senator Rudy Heriveux, former Minister of
Information under Aristide Mario Dupuy, Former Chamber of Deputies
President Pierre-Ericq Jean-Jacques, Rene Civil, and former Lavalas
official, Dismy CC)sar to promote their new platform. ANF has
registered 72 candidates for the 2010 elections and is represented
in all ten departments.




3. (S) MINUSTAH contacts (protect) have provided Post with a
list of 35 candidates allegedly involved in past or current
criminal activities (septel). Post's contact cautions that the
list is neither comprehensive nor definitive without further
investigation and evidence. Four ANF candidates appear on the
list:



- Joseph Medard (Artibonite, for Senator): Long known to
Post, he appears in troubling cables dating to the early 2000s and
was allegedly part of an Aristide era hit squad as well as
extensively involved in drug trafficking. Medard is on Post's
DeWine list. (Note: At least four other Artibonite candidates are
also allegedly connected to previous violence, most notably
Thompson Charlienor (Alternative) who was at the head of RAMICOS in
Saint Marc at the time of the 2004 La Scierie deaths (ref B) when
another current political candidate, Biron Odige (Inite),was at
the head of violent opponents Bale Wouze, during the deadly
confrontation. End note.)

- Serge Delva Gaspard, aka "Sergo Mayimoulen" (Nippes, for
Senator): Dismissed as a Fanmi Lavalas Mayor of Miragoane for
corruption. Gaspard was allegedly involved in burning down
political opponents' buildings.

- Wilner Content (Southeast, for Deputy): Former deputy
(2000). Allegations include inciting violence, but little detail.

- Emile Hibbert Eric Jean-Jacques (West, for Deputy): Son
of former President of the Chamber of Deputies, Ericq Jean-Jacques.
Formerly a Lespwa activist, the younger Jean-Jacques allegedly has
ties to drug traffickers and kidnappers. He is reportedly close to
Lavalas leader Rene Civil.


"QUALITY ROOSTER" LAVALAS

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4. (SBU) Media outlets have been following the party's efforts
to claim the historic Lavalas "Quality Rooster" as its pictographic
symbol for the campaign season and on the ballots. In 1990,
Lavalassians first won under the symbol, but the rights to the
image may be equally claimed by the National Front for Change and
Democracy (NFCD). Dismay Cesar stated that ANF wants to use the
symbol because they intend to "repeat the feat of 1990." Radio
Metropole and Le Nouvelliste have reported that youth leaders in
NFCD have sent a letter to judicial authorities "to prevent the use
of their emblem by Lavalas Ansamn Nou Fo."




5. (C) Comment: Although Lavalas has in fact splintered among
several parties, Ansamn Nou Fo is the group most explicitly
attempting to link its Lavalas roots to current political
candidates. ANF does not have the monopoly on former politicos
connected to violent pasts, but the high-profile support of
previously militant elements makes it a concern. Local observers
expect some trouble, but many believe that MINUSTAH's presence will
prevent significant unrest.
MERTEN