US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE870

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000870 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
DS/DSS/ITA 
DSERCC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, ASEC, HA, UN 
SUBJECT: HAITIANS MARK 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONSTITUTION 
WITH VIOLENCE 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Foley, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Two separate violent incidents took place in 
Port-au-Prince on 29 March, the 18th anniversary of the 
ratification of the Constitution of 1987.  Ex-military gang 
leader Jean Rene Anthony (aka Grenn Sonnen) renewed his call 
for a guerrilla campaign against Haitian officials and 
MINUSTAH. Grenn Sonnen's gang is believed to be responsible 
for the ambush of the Port director's security detail in 
Delmas 33 on 27 March. The tense situation there escalated 
yesterday as shooting and pandemonium spread throughout the 
Delmas area.  Simultaneously, a pro-Lavalas demonstration 
organized by Father Gerard Jean-Juste threw rocks at and 
reportedly exchanged gunfire with UN peacekeepers in the Bel 
Aire area of downtown Port-au-Prince.  In the aftermath of 
this demonstration, which numbered at least a thousand, 
General Heleno publicly condemned Lavalas elements whom he 
accused of fomenting instability and opposing the electoral 
process.  The Embassy closed an hour early to allow mission 
personnel to clear the downtown area, which was not directly 
affected by the violence.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) The morning of the 29th, HNP and MINUSTAH increased 
their presence in Delmas 33 to try to round up Grenn Sonnen's 
gang.  Despite this, around 1230 there was a large volume of 
random automatic gunfire throughout much of the Delmas area, 
causing car accidents, gridlock and panicked crowds.  The 
nearby Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) headquarters 
reported a grenade exploding and automatic weapons being 
fired at the building at approximately 1300.  MINUSTAH is now 
providing 24-hour protection to the CEP and is conducting 
foot patrols in the area. 
 
3. (C) In an interview with Radio Solidarite, Grenn Sonnen 
denied his involvement in the ambush which killed three 
people, including one police officer, in Delmas 33 late on 
the 27th. He declared that the Haitian National Police will 
not be free to move about the country as long as the 
ex-military is not free to do the same.  Grenn Sonnen vowed 
to kill both HNP and MINUSTAH personnel.  He renewed his call 
for an ex-military guerrilla movement against the Haitian 
government, saying that Prime Minister Latortue will either 
have to kill all of the ex-military or else leave the 
country.  He also threatened to kill Youri Latortue and 
claims to have captured many weapons, including M-16's and 
M-60 machine guns, from MINUSTAH.  In a separate announcement 
on the morning of the 30th, he declared that he would attack 
the Police Commissariat on Champ de Mars in downtown 
Port-au-Prince. 
 
4. (C) The Bel Aire march got off to a confusing start in the 
mid-morning hours when UN peacekeepers informed the 
protesters that their march was illegal as they had failed to 
register it with the HNP.  A separate march proposed in Cite 
Soleil never developed.  Organizers billed the march through 
Bel Aire as a "Peaceful March to Support the Constitution", 
and Jean-Juste invoked the Constitution in calling for the 
return of Aristide and for the release of all political 
prisoners.  UN peacekeepers were on hand to provide security 
and control the route of the march.  The march, estimated at 
between one and five thousand people, began around noon and 
moved toward the "Place de la Constitution" near the National 
Palace, but MINUSTAH blocked the roadway and forced 
protesters back into the Bel Aire neighborhood.  The marchers 
became angry and began throwing stones at UN peacekeepers on 
the edge of Bel Aire.  The UN responded with tear gas.  Some 
gunshots apparently emanated from the crowd, but no 
casualties were reported.  The demonstration was wrapped up 
by 1300. 
 
5. (C) General Heleno was present and directed UN forces at 
the demonstration.  In the aftermath, he declared that he has 
been deceived by Lavalas, and he now believes that some 
Lavalas leaders are determined to use violence to prevent 
successful elections.  He also indicated that MINUSTAH will 
respond aggressively. 
 
6. (U) RSO monitored the events of the day closely, placing 
the affected areas off limits, and the Ambassador sent 
employees home at 1415 to allow them to clear the downtown 
area safely.  Mission curfew was reduced temporarily to 1900. 
 
7. (C) Comment: Acting SRSG Medili told Ambassador late 
yesterday that MINUSTAH was aware of the hugely negative 
psychological impact of the attack on the CEP - the second in 
a week - and the overall violence.  He indicated that 
MINUSTAH was planning security operations in the next days to 
reverse the situation.  (Note: we are aware of planned 
operations in Bel Aire and Cite Soleil, as well as ongoing 
efforts in the Delmas area in pursuit of Grenn Sonnen.) End 
comment. 
 
FOLEY