US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2568

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
WHA ALSO FOR USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ASEC, HA 
SUBJECT: HAITI: SOCCER MATCH UPDATE 
 
REF: A. PAP 2401 
     B. PAP 2239 
 
Classified By: DCM Douglas Griffiths, REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (U) The Haitian National Police (HNP) has completed its 
investigation into the August 20 events at a USAID-funded 
soccer match in Martissant (reftel).  In a press conference 
on October 11, HNP Director General Mario Andresol announced 
in a press conference that a total of 15 officers would face 
charges for their role in the incident.  According to 
Andresol, the police documented ten dead and five wounded in 
the events.  The judicial police unit investigated 32 police 
officers and 13 have been detained and await formal charges 
(two other officers have been detained since September). 
 
2. (U) The results of the police investigation are in line 
with the conclusions of the investigations conducted by 
Pierre Esperance's National Human Rights Defense Network 
(RNDDH), who concluded ten people died and five were injured 
during the attack.  Esperance publicly lauded Andresol and 
the police investigation stating that "this is the first time 
that the police have so thoroughly investigated its own 
abuses." 
 
3. (C) Comment: The relatively swift investigation and 
subsequent arrests in the soccer match events provide a solid 
example of Andresol's commitment to reform of the HNP.  He 
has a long road ahead and will continue to face obstacles 
within the HNP to his efforts and he merits our full support. 
 We will continue to encourage investigations of this type 
into other instances of alleged HNP involvement in human 
rights abuses. 
CARNEY