C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003485

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM A/S TAFT, PRM/A, PRM/AAA, AF/S, AF/PD,
WHA/CCA
NAIROBI FOR REFCOORD AND INS
ROME FOR INS
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03485 261458Z
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/10
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL ZI CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN DOCTORS LIKELY TO BE RETURNED TO
GOROMONZI DETENTION CENTER

REF: HARARE 3397 (NOTAL)

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


1. (C) ON JUNE 26 UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OLUSEYI
BAJULAIYE TOLD CONSUL THAT CUBAN DOCTORS LEONEL CORDOVA
RODRIGUEZ AND NORIS DEL CARMEN PENA MARTINEZ WERE STILL
AT THE RHODESVILLE REMAND CENTER, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
HAD MOVED THEM ON JUNE 17. HE THOUGHT THAT THE CUBANS
WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE GOROMONZI DETENTION CENTER IN
THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AS THE RHODESVILLE FACILITY WAS ONLY
A TRANSIT CENTER. THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED
THAT HIS STAFF STILL ENJOYS DAILY ACCESS TO THE CUBANS,
WHO WERE RESIGNED TO THE TRANSFER. NEVERTHELESS,
BAJULAIYE TOLD CONSUL THAT HE INTENDS TO PROTEST THE
CUBANS' TRANSFER, COMPLAINING THAT GOROMONZI DETENTION
CENTER IS LOCATED TOO FAR FROM HARARE. HE ALSO INTENDED
TO REGISTER HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE CUBANS' SAFETY AT
GOROMONZI.


2. (C) G. GARRETT GRIBSBY OF SENATOR HELMS' STAFF ASKED
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD FOR ASSISTANCE IN DELIVERING A "CARE
PACKAGE" TO THE CUBANS, AS HE WAS UNDER INSTRUCTIONS TO
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03485 261458Z
PUT IT IN THE CUBANS' HANDS. THE AMBASSADOR REFERRED
HIM TO BAJULAIYE AND INDICATED TO GRIBSBY THAT IT WAS
UNLIKELY THAT THE GOZ WOULD AGREE TO HIS REQUEST. THE
SENATOR STAFFER INTENDS TO MEET WITH BAJULAIYE THE
EVENING OF JUNE 26 TO PURSUE A STRATEGY TO FULFILL HIS
MISSION.

MCDONALD

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