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### Viewing cable 05PORTAUPRINCE1294, HAITI: GOVERNMENT, MINUSTAH, AND POLICE BATTLE

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05PORTAUPRINCE1294 | 2005-05-10 11:19 | 2011-07-07 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Port Au Prince
Appears in these articles: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/07/06/117148/martellys-pick-as-haiti-prime.html

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001294

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS, DS/IP/WHA, DSERCC, DS/IP/ITA

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC KCRM HA MINUSTAH
    SUBJECT: HAITI: GOVERNMENT, MINUSTAH, AND POLICE BATTLE
    KIDNAPPING PHENOMENON

    REF: A. PAP 1252
         ¶B. 2004 PAP 1747

    ¶1.  (SBU)  Summary: A recent increase in the number of
    kidnappings in Port-au-Prince has put the government and
    police under increasing pressure to respond.  The government
    has raised the penalty for kidnapping to life-imprisonment
    and announced May 9 the establishment of a joint HNP-MINUSTAH
    anti-kidnapping unit.  Over the weekend, an HNP operation led
    to the liberation of three hostages and the arrest of fifteen
    alleged kidnappers.  End Summary.

    Kidnappings become political issue
    ---------------------------------

    ¶2.  (U)  During the past several weeks, there has been an
    increase in the number of kidnappings in Port-au-Prince.
    Statistics are notoriously elusive here, but based on the
    number of cases we hear about (roughly 4-5 per week for the
    past 6-8 weeks) the range could be between 25-40 new cases in
    this latest span.  Most of the attacks have targeted
    wealthy-appearing locals and nearly all have been resolved
    within several days by the payment of a ransom, with the
    victim released unhurt, though two victims were beaten by
    their captors.  The starting ransom demand is often
    150,000-200,000 (U.S. dollars) but most ransoms end up
    significantly lower, sometimes as low as $1,000.
    Nevertheless, the fact that ransoms are paid has given
    criminals a quick method of obtaining cash.  Three
    foreigners, a Russian UN worker, an Indian businessman, and a
    Taiwanese businessman, have been kidnapped in the past month.
     The first two were targets of opportunity, not targeted
    victims.

    ¶3. (SBU) There is little evidence that the kidnappings have
    been politically motivated, although at least two victims
    heard politically-motivated statements from their captors.
    (One of those victims, Jean-Enold Buteau, is a well-known
    political leader but also a physician; he told us that his
    captors justified their ill treatment of him by saying he had
    helped overthrow Aristide).  The kidnapping wave has
    nonetheless become a political issue, sparking growing
    criticism of the government and police, and to a lesser
    extent of MINUSTAH, for their seeming inability to put a stop
    to it.  Haitian business leaders have been particularly
    vocal, including in recent meetings with Embassy officials,
    saying that dealing with the kidnapping threat is taking
    precedence over every other activity, political or economic.
    The private sector issued a communiqu May 4 calling for the
    mobilization of the various sectors in face of the growing
    insecurity in Haiti, and the Group 184 and a prominent
    student organization plan a protest march on May 11 to
    complain about the level of insecurity.  Interim Prime
    Minister Latortue, who has publicly called on the various
    sectors to seek dialogue on issues rather than demonstrate in
    the streets, reportedly told business leaders privately last
    week that his government could not do any more than it was
    already doing.  Among the recent victims have been several
    school directors, and the capital has witnessed several
    spontaneous demonstrations by elementary students protesting
    against their principal's kidnapping.

    IGOH Response: Tougher sentences, cooperation with MINUSTAH
    --------------------------------------------- --------------

    ¶4.  (U) In response to the problem and the growing political
    challenge it represents, the Interim Government (IGOH) has
    slowly begun to take action.  The Council of Ministers
    adopted a measure May 4 increasing the penalty for kidnapping
    to life-imprisonment with hard labor.  Justice Minister
    Gousse said that the current penalty of one to five years was
    insufficient.  Henceforth, "any individual who kidnaps,
    abducts, holds hostage, or simply attempts to kidnap somebody
    for ransom will be sentenced to forced labor for life."
    During a May 6 speech in Jeremie, PM Latortue acknowledged
    the kidnapping problem and said the decree was only the first
    step in increasing the overall level of security.

    ¶5.  (U)  On May 7, the Haitian National Police (HNP)
    undertook several operations against kidnappers in the
    Port-au-Prince neighborhoods of Bel-Air and Delmas 42.  HNP
    spokesperson Coicou told reporters on May 8 that during the
    operations, the police had liberated three hostages,
    arrested fifteen alleged kidnappers,  seized several weapons
    and recovered an unknown number of stolen vehicles.  The
    three victims had been kidnapped throughout the previous week
    for unknown ransom demands.  One victim was a Haitian married
    to a French national.

    ¶6.  (U)  Of potentially greater significance, PM Latortue
    announced May 8 the formation of a joint HNP-MINUSTAH
    anti-kidnapping unit.  We understand that this will bring
    together MINUSTAH military and CIVPOL units with specially
    selected HNP officers, similar to the Major Crimes Unit that
    was temporarily established last year in response to a
    similar wave of kidnappings.  We will report details on this
    new cooperation as soon as possible.

    ¶7.  (SBU)  One of the alleged kidnappers arrested in the
    operation was Francel Jasmin, identified as a member of the
    Front for National Reconstruction (FRN) political party.  No
    accusations have been raised that the FRN was involved in any
    kidnappings, but FRN Secretary General Guy Phillipe, speaking
    publicly on May 9, was quick to defend Jasmin, saying that
    the party had engaged legal services on behalf of its member.
     He added, however, that it was impossible to keep "bad
    elements" out of the party, and that Jasmin would have to
    face the judicial process.  In a statement defending himself,
    Jasmin said HNP investigators interviewing him had also
    implied the collusion of Richard Chevalier with some of the
    kidnappers.  Chevalier, a former member of the OAS police
    advisory team funded by INL, helped with vetting HNP recruits
    and, later, supported a temporary anti-kidnapping unit set up
    by the HNP in mid-2004 (ref B).  The Embassy has long since
    severed its relationship with Chevalier, but it has come to
    light recently that he has been posing as an "agent" of the
    Embassy and/or DEA.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶8. (SBU)  Kidnapping has became a major issue over the past
    month, with nearly every political commentator criticizing
    the IGOH for its inability to put a stop to it once and for
    all.  This weekend's success in breaking up an apparent
    kidnapping ring allows the IGOH and police to show they can
    back up rhetoric with action, and has provided some
    much-needed breathing room for the PM as well as a boost to
    the self-esteem of the HNP, which has been rumored to have
    some of its own members responsible for the spike in
    kidnappings.  That said, kidnapping wealthy individuals
    remains a profitable way to earn quick money, both for
    criminals and for those with more political goals.  It
    remains to be seen how much effect these latest steps will
    have.  End Comment.
    GRIFFITHS

`