CUBANS STILL IN JAIL, INS OFFICER ATTEMPTING TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003105

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR CA A/S MARY RYAN, CA/VO/F/P DARIA
DARNELL, AF PDAS NANCY POWELL, AF DAS WITNEY SCHNEIDMAN,
AF/S DIRECTOR ARLENE RENDER, AF/S DEPUTY DIRECTOR DON
BOOTH, AND AF/S ZIMBABWE DESK OFFICER CHARLES GURNEY

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
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GENEVA FOR RMA

NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/10
TAGS: PREL PREF CMGT ZI CU
SUBJECT: CUBANS STILL IN JAIL, INS OFFICER ATTEMPTING TO
GAIN ACCESS FOR FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEW

REF: HARARE 3096

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.


1. (C) ON JUNE 8 AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SPOKE WITH MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY MACHIVENYIKA
MAPURANGA TO REITERATE OUR DESIRE TO SOLVE QUICKLY THE
REFUGEE CASE OF CUBAN DOCTORS LEONEL CORDOVA RODRIGUEZ
AND NORIS PENA MARTINEZ. THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY THAT WE HAD HEARD FROM THE LOCAL
UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE THAT CUBAN AMBASSADOR RODOLFO
SARRACINO WAS PRESSURING THE MFA TO HAND OVER THE
CUBANS, A REQUEST THE AMBASSADOR EXPECTED THE ZIMBABWEAN
GOVERNMENT WOULD EXERCISE ITS SOVEREIGNTY TO DENY. THE
AMBASSADOR ALSO ASKED WHAT WOULD BE THE OPINION OF THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT IF THE CUBANS WERE REMOVED TO
ANOTHER COUNTRY PENDING COMPLETION OF IMMIGRATION
FORMALITIES FOR THE UNITED STATES.


2. (C) MAPURANGA REPLIED THAT AS FAR AS THE GOVERNMENT
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OF ZIMBABWE WAS CONCERNED THE CUBANS COULD GO WHERE THEY
WISHED; THE MATTER WAS NOW THE COMPETENCE OF UNHCR AND
THE RECEIVING COUNTRY. RESPONDING TO THE AMBASSADOR'S
REMARK ABOUT THE CUBAN AMBASSADOR'S EFFORTS, THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID THAT HIS MINISTRY DID NOT
CHANGE ITS POSITION WITH "EVERY GUST OF WIND."


3. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD LATER SPOKE WITH ACTING
CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER MR. KARAGA TO SECURE THE
LATTER'S COOPERATION IN ARRANGING ACCESS TO THE CUBANS
FOR EMBASSY CONSULAR OFFICER HEBRON AND NAIROBI INS
OFFICER SANJEETA VARSANI. THE CUBANS OPTED TO REMAIN IN
THE GOROMONZI DETENTION FACILITY AS THEY WOULD CONTINUE
TO BE HELD TOGETHER AND, IN ANY EVENT, LIVING CONDITIONS
WERE OSTENSIBLY BETTER THAN IN THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE'S
TRANSIT CAMP, ACCORDING TO LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE
JOHN ADU. THE CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER DISCLAIMED
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE AND TRANSFERRED THE CALL TO THE
ACTION IMMIGRATION OFFICER, WHO INSISTED THAT THE UNHCR
REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY WITH THE REQUEST.
THE AMBASSADOR THEN SPOKE WITH UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
ADU, WHO REPORTED THAT HE ALREADY HAD BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH THE ACTION OFFICER, BUT WOULD SEEK A FACE-TO-FACE
MEETING. AS THIS CABLE IS BEING ISSUED, THE INS OFFICER
AND EMBASSY CONSULAR OFFICER ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
GOROMONZI DETENTION FACILITY.


4. (C) COMMENT: WE CONTINUE TO THINK THAT EVACUATING
THE CUBANS FROM ZIMBABWE IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO
ENSURE THEIR WELFARE. IN FACT, AMBASSADOR MCDONALD
STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THEY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED
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FROM ZIMBABWE TO THE U.S. OR A THIRD COUNTRY. NO MATTER
HOW MANY ASSURANCES WE RECEIVE FROM THE GOZ, IT IS STILL
QUITE POSSIBLE SOMETHING SINISTER IS AFOOT. OUR
PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR THEM TO GO TO THE U.S. FOR
PROCESSING OR CANADA, IF THEY MUST GO TO A THIRD COUNTRY
PENDING COMPLETION OF THEIR MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OR
OTHER INS FORMALITIES. A THIRD OPTION WOULD BE KENYA.
END COMMENT.

MCDONALD

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