VZCZCXYZ0020
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #0296 0511930
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201930Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1045
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0167
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000296
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL
STATE FOR INR/R/MR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PGOV HA CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI
1. Conservative, influential, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio
(Sat. circ. 173,049, 2/17) ran an op-ed by former Army
Commander-in-Chief and current Director of the International Studies
Center of the Catholic University Juan Emilio Cheyre entitled,
"Haiti: The Imperative Not To Fail." Excerpts follow.
2. "The nine countries that form the Minustah met in Lima... where
they conceptually agreed that the time for change has come. But
that is not enough. It is not enough to have a declaration. There
must be new goals and strategies, and different ways to maintain the
force, readapting the mission and evaluating a project so that it
can be quantified in terms of goals, responsibilities, and
achievements.... Haitians need to see, feel, and live the changes.
This is not so hard if one leaves the desk and uses money in the
field and not in elevators. Simple things would suffice: two more
hours of light, some water, increase the stoplights in the city....
3. "The government of Haiti must take real control ... and work
better with the forces that support it, such as Minustah; create and
make institutions work; reject bandits; and especially not to seek
support by protecting interest groups. It is time to rule with
legitimacy....
4. "The police and justice must reorganize and show radical
changes. It is not possible to have a judicial system that does not
issue arrest warrants or put bandits on trial ... or have a 5000
police force of questionable formation ... absent from the areas of
conflict....
5. "Minustah, the police, and the government must find ways to
share information to control, among other things, the 8 percent of
narcotics that leave Haiti for the United States; establish land and
maritime border controls; disarm a population that this year has
only turned in about 150 weapons; and to identify, apprehend and
bring criminal leaders to trial.
6. "We must end the concept that there must be total security for
assistance to arrive. Terror is focalized in Cite Soleil and
Martissant, which are two small areas of the capital. There is no
doubt that the inhabitants in those areas are protecting the
bandits, but they cannot be considered enemies. The combined
military action ... must be strengthened to guard against
insurrection and terror.
7. "Haiti must establish a currency and regulate its use and
exchange.... It must also control the income of Haitians abroad.
The illegal foreign capital market must be dealt with, because the
wealth of some could affect an incipient honest private sector.
Haiti should define, finance, and execute at least 15 road projects
with clear deadlines.... It is vital for NGOs to have
accountability, so that corrupt entities are removed ... and honest
ones can continue to operate... but not without coordinating their
goals with the government and tax payers. Education and health ...
have to be programs that show results. Perhaps teaching Spanish in
the only country in the Americas that does not speak or understand
it is not such a crazy idea....
8. "Countries such as Chile, the United Nations, and the OAS, which
are providing support, must demand results. This means committing
to do follow-up.... We have no right to fail. Many already have.
Success requires a new strategy."
KELLY