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

S E C R E T PORT AU PRINCE 000991 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: DECL: 2019/12/31 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ASEC KCRM PHUM SNAR HA 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 -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶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 -------------- -------------- ¶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