US embassy cable - 04SANTODOMINGO1965

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001965 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/PPC, AND DRL 
NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
TREASURY FOR OASIA-LAMONICA 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION 
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2008 
TAGS: PGOV, MARR, HA, DR 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF ON HAITI, NEXT 
DOMINICAN AMBASSADOR 
 
 
Classified By: ECOPOL Counselor Michael Meigs for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d 
). 
 
1. (C) In conversation with DATT and poloff on March 22 
Dominican Armed Forces Secretary LTG Soto Jiminez expressed 
concern over "gangs of criminals" that he said controlled the 
Haitian side of the northern border with the Dominican 
Republic.  Dominican security forces along the border 
consequently have no authorized counterparts with whom to 
coordinate border controls and other issues.  The gangs 
collected illegal taxes from traders or blocked their passage 
when they tried to cross the border to engage in legitimate 
commerce, particularly at weekly markets on which many 
Dominicans and Haitians depend for food or income.  Soto 
urged that the multinational interim force in Haiti deploy 
troops to re-establish Haitian government authority in the 
north. 
 
2. (C) Soto told us that the previous Dominican ambassador in 
Port-au-Prince Despradel would not return, owing to alleged 
abuse of his position.  The new ambassador will be a military 
officer, who because of his experience will be better able to 
assess the unstable security situation. 
 
3. (U) Port au Prince minimize considered. 
HERTELL