C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003349

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03349 210941Z
ROME FOR INS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: THE UNHCR EFFORT TO FREE THE CUBAN DOCTORS
DRIFTS

REF: HARARE 3344

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


1. (C) UNHCR ATTORNEY MICHIEL SALOMONS INFORMED CONSUL
ON JUNE 21 THAT DOCTORS LEONEL CORDOVA RODRIGUEZ AND
NORIS DEL CARMEN PENA MARTINEZ NOW HAVE VISAS STAMPED IN
THEIR CUBAN PASSPORTS ALLOWING TRAVEL TO THE UNSPECIFIED
COUNTRY WILLING TO RECEIVE THEM. HE SAID THAT
IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ATTEMPTED TO TRANSFER THE DOCTORS
TO HARARE CENTRAL PRISON, BUT THE PAIR BALKED. THE
UNHCR HAD PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT THE DOCTORS TO HARARE
CENTRAL PRISON, WHERE SEVERAL INMATES THREATENED TO RAPE
DOCTOR CORDOVA IF HE WERE PLACED AMONG THEM. SALOMONS
SUGGESTED THAT THEY BE RETURNED TO GOROMONZI DETENTION
CENTER, BUT THE OFFICER IN CHARGE WOULD NOT HAVE THEM
BACK. THE TWO REMAIN IN A REMAND FACILITY WITHOUT
RUNNING WATER; THE DOCTORS HAVE NOT SHOWERED FOR FOUR
DAYS AND ARE BRUSHING THEIR TEETH WITH BOTTLED WATER
BEING BROUGHT BY UNHCR AT THEIR DAILY VISITS.


2. (C) THE UNHCR ATTORNEY REPORTED THAT A DECISION HAD
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BEEN MADE LOCALLY TO REFER THE CASE TO UNHCR
HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA FOR FURTHER HANDLING IF THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT MAKE A DECISION TO RELEASE
DOCTORS CORDOVA AND PENA BY COB JUNE 21. UNHCR ATTORNEY
SALOMONS TOLD CONSUL THAT HE WAS SCHEDULED TO DEPART
HARARE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 23, LEAVING ONLY REGIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE BAJULAIYE TO HANDLE THE CASE.

MCDONALD

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