US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE1796

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001796 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, HA, Haitian National Police 
SUBJECT: HAITI: DREAD WILME KILLED; HNP MORE ACTIVE 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. Griffiths for reasons 1.4 ( 
B) and (D) 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY.  MINUSTAH troops reportedly killed wanted 
gang leader Dread Wilme and an unspecified number of his 
associates in an operation on July 6.  In addition, over the 
past two weeks, authorities have made numerous important 
arrests and killed several big name bandits in 
Port-au-Prince.  While it remains unclear whether these 
actions represent a settling of accounts by newly appointed 
Judicial Police Director General Michael Lucius or a genuine 
effort at neutralizing criminal elements, it at least shows a 
will to act on the part of the HNP.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C)   In the morning of July 6, MINUSTAH launched an 
operation into the Bois Neuf area of Cite Soleil, reportedly 
killing gang leader Dread Wilme and an unspecified number of 
his associates.  While this is important progress, it is not 
the massive operation that was initially planned and does not 
represent the establishment of a permanent MINUSTAH presence 
in the area.  This will temporary knock the gangs off their 
feet, but any number of gang leaders can rise to fill the 
vacuum left by Wilme's death.  MINUSTAH needs to keep up the 
pressure with continuous small and medium sized operations. 
The Peruvian troops took the lead on this assault, proving 
their reputation as fearless fighters. 
 
HNP and MINUSTAH More Active --- 
 
3. (C)   Between June 22 and June 25, the HNP arrested six of 
its own officers accused of involvement in kidnapping, and 
also killed Emmanuel Coriolan (aka Dom Laj) after he 
allegedly resisted arrest.  The HNP also captured a man named 
Jerry Narcius attempting to use the credit card of a kidnap 
victim, and he is reportedly cooperating with authorities. 
On June 29, as part of a raid into Bel-Aire, Brazilian troops 
arrested 13 Haitians, killed six gang members, and 
inadvertently found and freed a kidnapped Haitian Red Cross 
employee.  Bel-Aire boss Toutou narrowly avoided capture 
during this raid, after being surrounded by Brazilians.  In a 
separate operation, Brazilian troops freed the assistant 
director of the National Port Authority.  The Brazilians are 
now patrolling Bel-Aire on a daily basis and are receiving 
tips from Haitians, having recovered some caches of equipment 
(radios, phones, ammunition) and drugs (cocaine).   In a July 
6 raid, the HNP and Brazilians freed two kidnapping victims, 
acting on tips from local residents. 
 
Militant Lavalas Wing Feeling Heat --- 
 
4. (C)   Over the weekend of July 2-3, The HNP arrested gang 
leader Lucien Fabien (aka Boeuf), a former Police Commissar 
previously arrested in connection with a massacre in 
Carrefour Feuilles in 1999.  Never tried, he was subsequently 
implicated in drug trafficking and was fired from the HNP on 
April 27, 2004.  The HNP also arrested Gabriel Excellent, a 
member of the Rene Civil OP Lavalas Group, in Port-au-Prince. 
 On July 2, Dominican authorities captured Arnel Belizaire, 
an ex-FAd'H, former Lavalas employee, and recent prison 
escapee.  The Dominicans expelled Belizaire and transferred 
him to HNP authorities on July 3. 
 
5. (C)   Reports indicate that a top lieutenant in the Evens 
gang also died as a result of an HNP operation over the 
weekend.  Joint MINUSTAH/HNP operations in the Tokyo 
neighborhood of Cite Soleil produced 11 arrests of suspected 
kidnappers in the La Plaine area. 
 
6. (C)   COMMENT.  This activity has occurred following 
Michael Lucius' ascension to Director General of the Judicial 
Police Unit, and he has vocally promoted these successes in 
radio interviews.  It is not clear whether these arrests are 
all for cause or more for effect.  Sources have told Emboffs 
that they view Lucius as the "only man who can do the job 
now."  However, Lucius' reputation is tainted by alleged 
involvement in narco-trafficking, and some sources have told 
us that some of the arrests may be the result of Lucius 
settling scores.  END COMMENT. 
GRIFFITHS