Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE3263
2000-06-15 18:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
UNHCR: PRESIDENT MUGABE TO MAKE DECISION ON
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 151834Z Jun 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO5347 PAGE 01 HARARE 03263 151829Z ACTION PRM-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 DODE-00 DOEE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-02 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W ------------------635157 151829Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6335 INFO USINT HAVANA IMMEDIATE COMMISSIONER USINS WASHDC IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY ROME USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY CAIRO AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY LONDON
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003263
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03263 151829Z
DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
ROME FOR INS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: UNHCR: PRESIDENT MUGABE TO MAKE DECISION ON
RELEASE OF CUBAN DOCTORS
REF: A) HARARE 3231 (NOTAL),B) STATE 113556 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003263
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03263 151829Z
DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
ROME FOR INS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: UNHCR: PRESIDENT MUGABE TO MAKE DECISION ON
RELEASE OF CUBAN DOCTORS
REF: A) HARARE 3231 (NOTAL),B) STATE 113556 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.
1. (C) ON JUNE 15 LUSAKA-BASED UNITED NATIONS HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) REGIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE OLUSEYI BAJULAIYE TOLD AMBASSADOR
MCDONALD THAT HE HAD MET WITH A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS IN
HARARE WITH RESPECT TO THE CASES OF CUBAN DOCTORS LEONEL
CORDOVA RODRIGUEZ AND NORIS DEL CARMEN PENA MARTINEZ.
THE REGIONAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT HE HAD
ATTEMPTED TO DELIVER A MATTRESS AND MAGAZINES TO THE
CUBANS, BUT WAS BARRED FROM DOING SO. HE SAID THE CUBAN
DOCTORS ARE IN A VERY STRESSED EMOTIONAL STATE,
PARTICULARLY DOCTOR PENA. THE TWO HAD BEEN FED ONLY ONE
MEAL A DAY BY THE ZIMBABWEANS, PER THE POLICE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03263 151829Z
REGULATIONS FOR PRISONERS IN REMAND STATUS, AND HAD BEEN
USING WHAT LITTLE MONEY THEY HAD TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR
MEAGER DIET. BAJULAIYE SAID HE PROTESTED THEIR
TREATMENT STRENUOUSLY TO THE ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY
OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR. NGONI CHIDEYA.
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REQUESTED THAT BAJULAIYE PUT HIS
COMPLAINTS IN WRITING TO THE GOZ AND THE UNHCR
REPRESENTATIVES SAID THAT HE WOULD DO SO. THE CUBANS
HAVE THREATENED TO GO ON A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST THE
INHUMANE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE BEING KEPT,
ACCORDING TO BAJULAIYE.
2. (C) UNHCR ATTORNEY MICHIEL SALOMONS SAID THAT THE
BIG NEWS WAS THAT DR. CHIDEYA AND VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH
MSIKA WOULD BE BRIEFING PRESIDENT MUGABE THE EVENING OF
JUNE 15 ON THE CASE AND THAT MUGABE WAS LIKELY TO MAKE A
DECISION ON IT THAT NIGHT. BAJULAIYE SAID THAT HE
THOUGHT THAT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND VICE
PRESIDENT MSIKA WERE BOTH INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE CUBANS TO THE UNHCR. IF THE
DECISION WAS A NEGATIVE ONE, THEN BAJULAIYE WOULD
CONTACT UNCHR HEAD OGATA TO TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO
PRESIDENT MUGABE.
3. (C) SALOMONS ALSO INFORMED US THAT HE HAD BEEN IN
TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH COUNSEL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, PETER VAN KRIEKEN, TO
PROPOSE THAT THE NETHERLANDS ACCEPT THE CUBANS IN LIEU
OF CANADA. BAJULAIYE REPORTED THAT THE UNHCR
REPRESENTATIVE IN OTTAWA HAD REPORTED REAL RELUCTANCE BY
CANADA TO TAKE ON THE CASE, AS IT HAD BEEN BURNED IN A
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03263 151829Z
SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE PAST (NFI). THE DUTCH
AMBASSADOR IN HARARE THOUGHT THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS A
GOOD ONE AND PROMISED TO CONTACT HER GOVERNMENT WITH A
FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. VAN KRIEKEN THOUGHT THAT IT
WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO ACCEPT THE CUBANS FOR A PERIOD
OF THREE MONTHS, ASSUMING THE USG HAD NO PROBLEM WITH
IT.
4. (C) SALOMONS ASKED THAT THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE
NETHERLANDS APPROACH THE DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTRY AND
ASSURE IT THAT THE USG VIEWED FAVORABLY THE CUBANS
REQUESTING TEMPORARY ASYLUM OR EMERGENCY RESETTLEMENT IN
THE NETHERLANDS. IF THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT RELEASES
THE CUBANS TO THE CUSTODY OF THE UNHCR, THE PLAN WOULD
BE TO MOVE THE PAIR OUT OF ZIMBABWE ON JUNE 16 TO
NAIROBI, AND FROM NAIROBI ONWARD TO THE NETHERLANDS.
5. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: WE WOULD APPRECIATE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTING AN APPROACH TO THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT
ALONG THE LINES PROPOSED BY SALOMONS.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03263 151829Z
DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
ROME FOR INS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: UNHCR: PRESIDENT MUGABE TO MAKE DECISION ON
RELEASE OF CUBAN DOCTORS
REF: A) HARARE 3231 (NOTAL),B) STATE 113556 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
B/D.
1. (C) ON JUNE 15 LUSAKA-BASED UNITED NATIONS HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) REGIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE OLUSEYI BAJULAIYE TOLD AMBASSADOR
MCDONALD THAT HE HAD MET WITH A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS IN
HARARE WITH RESPECT TO THE CASES OF CUBAN DOCTORS LEONEL
CORDOVA RODRIGUEZ AND NORIS DEL CARMEN PENA MARTINEZ.
THE REGIONAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT HE HAD
ATTEMPTED TO DELIVER A MATTRESS AND MAGAZINES TO THE
CUBANS, BUT WAS BARRED FROM DOING SO. HE SAID THE CUBAN
DOCTORS ARE IN A VERY STRESSED EMOTIONAL STATE,
PARTICULARLY DOCTOR PENA. THE TWO HAD BEEN FED ONLY ONE
MEAL A DAY BY THE ZIMBABWEANS, PER THE POLICE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03263 151829Z
REGULATIONS FOR PRISONERS IN REMAND STATUS, AND HAD BEEN
USING WHAT LITTLE MONEY THEY HAD TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR
MEAGER DIET. BAJULAIYE SAID HE PROTESTED THEIR
TREATMENT STRENUOUSLY TO THE ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY
OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DR. NGONI CHIDEYA.
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REQUESTED THAT BAJULAIYE PUT HIS
COMPLAINTS IN WRITING TO THE GOZ AND THE UNHCR
REPRESENTATIVES SAID THAT HE WOULD DO SO. THE CUBANS
HAVE THREATENED TO GO ON A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST THE
INHUMANE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE BEING KEPT,
ACCORDING TO BAJULAIYE.
2. (C) UNHCR ATTORNEY MICHIEL SALOMONS SAID THAT THE
BIG NEWS WAS THAT DR. CHIDEYA AND VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH
MSIKA WOULD BE BRIEFING PRESIDENT MUGABE THE EVENING OF
JUNE 15 ON THE CASE AND THAT MUGABE WAS LIKELY TO MAKE A
DECISION ON IT THAT NIGHT. BAJULAIYE SAID THAT HE
THOUGHT THAT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND VICE
PRESIDENT MSIKA WERE BOTH INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE CUBANS TO THE UNHCR. IF THE
DECISION WAS A NEGATIVE ONE, THEN BAJULAIYE WOULD
CONTACT UNCHR HEAD OGATA TO TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO
PRESIDENT MUGABE.
3. (C) SALOMONS ALSO INFORMED US THAT HE HAD BEEN IN
TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH COUNSEL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, PETER VAN KRIEKEN, TO
PROPOSE THAT THE NETHERLANDS ACCEPT THE CUBANS IN LIEU
OF CANADA. BAJULAIYE REPORTED THAT THE UNHCR
REPRESENTATIVE IN OTTAWA HAD REPORTED REAL RELUCTANCE BY
CANADA TO TAKE ON THE CASE, AS IT HAD BEEN BURNED IN A
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03263 151829Z
SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE PAST (NFI). THE DUTCH
AMBASSADOR IN HARARE THOUGHT THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS A
GOOD ONE AND PROMISED TO CONTACT HER GOVERNMENT WITH A
FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. VAN KRIEKEN THOUGHT THAT IT
WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO ACCEPT THE CUBANS FOR A PERIOD
OF THREE MONTHS, ASSUMING THE USG HAD NO PROBLEM WITH
IT.
4. (C) SALOMONS ASKED THAT THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE
NETHERLANDS APPROACH THE DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTRY AND
ASSURE IT THAT THE USG VIEWED FAVORABLY THE CUBANS
REQUESTING TEMPORARY ASYLUM OR EMERGENCY RESETTLEMENT IN
THE NETHERLANDS. IF THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT RELEASES
THE CUBANS TO THE CUSTODY OF THE UNHCR, THE PLAN WOULD
BE TO MOVE THE PAIR OUT OF ZIMBABWE ON JUNE 16 TO
NAIROBI, AND FROM NAIROBI ONWARD TO THE NETHERLANDS.
5. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: WE WOULD APPRECIATE DEPARTMENT
REQUESTING AN APPROACH TO THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT
ALONG THE LINES PROPOSED BY SALOMONS.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>