US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE1599

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001599 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
DS/DSS/ITA 
DSERCC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ASEC, HA, Haitian National Police, MINUSTAH, Security Situation 
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH AND HNP RAID BEL AIR; GANGS RETALIATE; 
POLICE STATION ATTACKED IN THE NORTH 
 
REF: A. PAP 1522 
     B. PAP 1562 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Douglas M. Griffiths, for reaso 
ns 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In response to the May 31 attack on a 
downtown public market (ref A) and subsequent threats by 
gangs to commit similar acts throughout Port-au-Prince, the 
Haitian National Police (HNP) and MINUSTAH conducted a joint 
operation in Bel Air June 4 that reportedly resulted in 7 
deaths and 34 arrests. Other criminal violence over the June 
3-5 weekend produced further casualties, although the exact 
number and circumstances remain uncertain. Kidnappings 
continue unabated, including four cases on June 6 involving 
victims related to mission locally employed staff. 
Separately, a police station and a former elections office in 
Le Borgne were attacked June 2 by an alleged paramilitary 
group operating in the north of Haiti. End summary. 
 
HNP-MINUSTAH raid in Bel Air 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (C) HNP Director General Leon Charles told the DCM on June 
6 that the gangs suspected to be responsible for the "Tet 
Boeuf" market fire on May 31 were threatening to burn other 
marketplaces. The group, "Armee Sans Tete," reportedly led by 
"General Toutou" and based in Bel Air, began as a kidnapping 
ring but had allegedly turned more violent. The HNP and 
CIVPOL met on June 3 and agreed on a joint operation for June 
4. According to Charles, the HNP, backed by CIVPOL and 
MINUSTAH military, moved in to Bel Air at roughly 0400 and 
began a house-to-house search in the target area. When 
residents began shooting at police, the HNP requested 
covering fire from a Jordanian FPU to allow HNP SWAT forces 
to enter the remaining homes. The Bel Air raid resulted in 2 
deaths and 34 arrests, according to Charles. (Note: the UN 
does not have independent figures for the number of deaths. 
End note). 
 
3. (C) The early morning raid reportedly stirred anger 
amongst Bel Air gangs who then spent the morning on a 
vengeful search for police. Around mid-day, Charles said, 
gangs reportedly tried to attack the family home of a Crowd 
Control Unit (CIMO) officer. The home was unoccupied, but 
gangs allegedly set fire to 3 houses and 3 cars in the area. 
The HNP responded to the scene where a significant amount of 
gunfire was exchanged between police and gang members, 
resulting in the deaths of five people. 
 
Other weekend violence 
---------------------- 
 
4. (C) Other violence throughout the city on June 4 no doubt 
contributed to the number of casualties. Sources told us that 
well-armed bandits attacked businesses in the Delmas 2 
district on June 4, including M&S Construction and a Comcel 
(mobile phone) building at the intersection of Rue Nazon and 
Rue Logand (ref B). Sources at both Comcel and M&S 
construction told emboffs that their guards exchanged 
significant fire with the gangs.  The bandits told M&S 
security guards that they merely wanted to transit the M&S 
property in order to attack the rear of the police station 
that abuts M&S's property. In addition, there were two 
reports of unsuccessful attacks on the port.  On the evening 
of June 3, four boats with four-to-five armed men in each 
boat, approached the port from the water.  Port guards and 
Haitian Coast Guard rebuffed the attack, but the gunmen 
threatened that they would return on Monday, June 6.  On the 
evening of June 4, embassy officers received reports of an 
attack on the port's man gate.  We contacted Minustah 
authorities, who responded with an APC.  Minustah's quick 
response to this incident underscored their tepid response to 
the exchanges of gunfire reported above. 
 
Tallying up the Deaths 
---------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  While some press reports suggest police killed as 
many as 25 people and burned several homes themselves, 
Charles declared that the General Hospital Ambulance 
recovered a total of 7 bodies from the two incursions to Bel 
Air, and denied reports that the police had burned any 
buildings. According to the human rights organizations RNDDH 
(formerly NCHR), the central morgue director reported 
receiving a total of 25 bodies from June 3-6: 4 on June 3; 16 
on June 4 (not all deaths from gunshot wounds); 2 on June 5 
and 2 on June 6, including one police officer. (Note: Charles 
explained that an HNP officer was shot the morning of June 6 
as he escorted his child to school near Nazon. End note). Ten 
of the bodies received on June 4 reportedly came from the 
area around the Comcel office, not Bel Air. MINUSTAH suggests 
that lower Delmas is the site of a continuing war for 
territory by gangs associated with Dred Wilme are attempting 
to replace local gang leaders with their allies. 
 
Kidnappings continue unabated 
----------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Although many kidnappings are not reported to police 
or MINUSTAH, unofficial reports to the Embassy of kidnappings 
continue to rise. On June 6, the American Citizen Services 
Section of the Embassy reported that four Embassy employees 
had been affected by kidnappings on the morning of June 6: 
the son of a GSO employee (released the same day); the 
daughter of a GSO contract driver; the brother of a USAID 
employee, and the daughter of another USAID employee. In 
addition, on June 5, a woman was reportedly kidnapped near 
the Caribbean Market on Delmas 75. (Note: The Caribbean is 
frequented by Embassy personnel. End note). 
 
Attack in LeBorgne 
------------------ 
 
7. (C) MINUSTAH reports that on June 2, roughly 10 armed men 
from the so-called "Armee Dessalines de Liberation Nationale" 
(ADLN) raided an HNP post and a city electoral registration 
center in Le Borgne, on the northern coast between Cap 
Haitien and Port-de-Paix. The group captured the 4 HNP 
officers manning the post and destroyed part of the interior 
of the station before moving to a former communal elections 
office (BEC), where they threw a molotov cocktail and shot at 
the front of the building.  No casualties were reported. OAS 
registration chief Elizabeth Spehar told us June 7 that this 
attack did not hit any currently operating election 
facilities. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. (C) Much of the violence (and most of the deaths) over the 
weekend appears related to continued efforts by Cite Soleil 
gangs to expand their area of influence in Port-au-Prince. 
These battles are increasingly violent, with some business 
leaders there now relying on more heavily armed security 
personnel to protect their interests. The MINUSTAH-HNP 
operation seems to have successfully netted several important 
gang leaders, but the HNP feels increasingly hunted by gangs 
who are angry at their losses and vow vengeance against the 
entire HNP. 
 
9. (C) The Le Borgne attack highlights a lesser-known aspect 
of the troubled security situation here, namely the presence 
in certain parts of Haiti's north of shadowy armed groups 
with mixed political and criminal motives.  Their reach is by 
no means widespread, but they represent another potential 
threat to the electoral process.  Septel will provide more 
details. 
FOLEY