TFHA01: EMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE EARTHQUAKE SITREP as of 1800,

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000130 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT HA PGOV AID EAID SUBJECT: TFHA01: EMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE EARTHQUAKE SITREP as of 1800, February 5, 2010 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Private sector representatives pledged support to Preval for a common strategy. Minister of Justice Paul Denis re-established activities at his Ministry and appointed a new Chief Prosecutor and Dean of the Court of First instance. The Government of Haiti (GOH) is struggling with planning sufficient temporary settlements. The security situation is stable as the National Police has returned to pre-earthquake statistics for officers on duty. The risk of volatility, however, remains, but can be mitigated by an outreach to opposition leaders and sustained aid delivery. End Summary. PRIVATE SECTOR MEETS PREVAL ¶2. (SBU) Key representatives of the private sector met with President Preval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive on February 4. A source close to the President's office and the business sector told PolOff that the meeting ended on a positive note, with the private sector representatives putting aside their political differences and committing their support to President Preval for a common strategy for reconstruction. ¶3. (SBU) Opposition parties and civil society leaders have also proposed a common and unified strategy, but remain critical of President Preval's leadership. Bellerive, however, rejected calls by opposition parties and some senators for a change in government. The Prime Minister argued that a change in government would not improve aid delivery. JUSTICE MINISTRY ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Justice resumed its activities in a new building downtown. The Minister of Justice, Paul Denis, nominated Marie Jocelyne Casimir - a veteran of the Court - as the Dean of the Court of First Instance, replacing the diseased Rock Cadet. Joseph Manes Louis, just recently fired under Prime Minister Pierre-Louis' government, will return to his position as Chief Prosecutor. Denis has used the case of ten American citizens held for alleged child trafficking as an example that the justice system is still working, but several national and local courts in the West and South departments (including the Ministry and Supreme Court) were destroyed or rendered non-functional by the earthquake and case work has yet to resume. Court activities, however, are slowly returning to normal in the remainder of the country. SETTLEMENTS ¶5. (SBU) The GOH reportedly identified four new planned settlement sites that may house up to 5,500 people. Other sites are pending approval, but would in total host up to 65-80,000 people, a number still far short of what's needed. The GOH will specifically have to tackle land tenure issues to enable the creation of temporary settlements. POLICE AND SECURITY ¶6. (SBU) 4,600 police officers reported for duty in Port-au-Prince on February 3 despite the fact that no salaries have been paid yet, according to Director General of the Haitian National Police (HNP) Mario Andresol. This number is similar to pre-earthquake statistics. HNP reports having arrested approximately 100 of the 4,000 escaped prisoners. ¶7. (SBU) With U.N. and U.S. security forces largely dedicated to the relief efforts, and the HNP tied down with rebuilding itself, vigilantism is likely to rise. Canadian officials reportedly witnessed the extra-judicial killing of prisoners in the South by HNP officers, and reports indicate that a kidnapper was killed by civilians in Port-au-Prince on February 5. There are also reports that citizens in Cite Soleil killed two returned gang leaders two weeks ago when they attempted to re-establish control in their old zone, Ti Haiti. Probably as a means of prevention, an HNP spokesperson publicly warned that the lynching of "werewolves" (possessed spirits in voodoo belief) in IDP camps will be prosecuted. ¶8. (SBU) Overall, the security situation remains stable, except for sporadic incidents. However, with relief still not reaching some individuals and allegations of corruption in aid delivery, there is a risk that displaced persons (IDP) camps could be utilized for political mobilization, including violent demonstrations. Disgruntled political actors could leverage the desperation and built-up frustration in IDP camps, where thousands of homeless and jobless youth - easily manipulated - now reside, to foment violence. The transition from the U.S. military to civilian relief organizations and U.N. forces, combined with the upcoming rainy season, may further challenge that stability (Note: U.S. troops command significant influence in the Haitian "psyche;" several reports indicate food deliveries managed by U.S. troops have been smoother than those done by the United Nations). Continued stability will largely depend on the extent to which Preval is willing to reach out to estranged opposition leaders and the sustained effectiveness of aid delivery, especially during the hand-off from U.S. to U.N. forces. VENEZUELA INCIDENT ¶9. (SBU) US naval officers were confronted by a Venezuelan national following the structural evaluation of a building requested by Haiti Port Authority officials on February 2. The Venezuelan national (unconfirmed civilian or GBRV official) accused U.S. personnel of being "occupiers," and claimed the inspected building was in use by the Venezuelans. Press was on scene and recorded the confrontation. MERTEN