POLOFF AND UN OFFICER DETAINED, THREATENED BY WAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002529

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY
PARIS FOR C. NEARY
NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER
DEPT FOR DS/OP/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2012
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: POLOFF AND UN OFFICER DETAINED, THREATENED BY WAR
VETERANS


Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d

Summary:
--------------

1. (C) Self-described Zimbabwean war veterans detained Poloff
on November 15, together with a UN Senior Humanitarian
Affairs Officer, a US Embassy driver, and a Zimbabwean
citizen guide, for 45 minutes at a farm in Melfort (about 25
kms southeast of Harare). The war veterans beat the
Zimbabwean citizen guide extensively and the Embassy driver
slightly, and roughed up the UN Official, but Poloff was
spared. The war vets also seized the UN Official's identity
card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Zimbabweans' identity cards, and Poloff's camera and
notebook. Even though RSO was in communication with Police
throughout the incident, Police have not yet detained anyone.
The Embassy has sent a strongly worded diplomatic note
protesting the incident and stating that we expect the GOZ to
identify, detain, and take legal action against the war
veterans involved (text faxed to AF/S). End Summary.


2. (C) Self-described Zimbabwean war veterans detained Poloff
on November 15, together with Andrew Timpson, a UN Senior
Humanitarian Affairs Officer, a US Embassy driver, and a
Zimbabwean citizen guide, for 45 minutes at the Thanner farm
in Melfort (about 25 kms southeast of Harare). Poloff and
Timpson were interviewing ex-commercial farm workers on the
farm for about 45 minutes concerning their food situation
when war veterans arrived and began violently interrogating
the party. Poloff identified himself, gave them a business
card, apologized for any offense and offered to depart with
the whole party to avoid any problems. The war veterans
refused the offer stating that they were going to detain and
beat the party.

Zimbabwean Guide Beaten Extensively
--------------

3. (C) The war veterans then beat the Zimbabwean citizen
guide extensively on the head, sides, and back with open
hands and long heavy sticks; he suffered a punctured eardrum
and loss of hearing in that ear as a result. The war
veterans also beat the US Embassy driver on the back, roughed
up the UN Official slightly, but Poloff was spared. After
searching the Embassy vehicle and the party's bags, the war
veterans instructed the party to get in the Embassy vehicle
and follow the war veterans' pick-up truck to an undisclosed
location off the farm. After following the pick-up to the
main road, the Embassy party broke off and returned to the
Embassy. The war veterans confiscated the party's still
camera, cell phones, identity cards, and various papers. The
cell phones were returned however.

Police Notified
--------------

4. (C) Just before the situation deteriorated, Poloff
notified Polchief by cell phone of the problem but was cut
off by the war veterans who seized Poloff's phone. Polchief
notified the Ambassador and RSO who notified the Police and
requested that Police send units immediately to the Thanner
farm, seal off roads, and arrest the individuals responsible.
RSO also notified the UN Security Officer, Valdim Aunshko
who said he would go to Harare Police Headquarters and demand
action. Police Headquarters in Harare then notified RSO that
units had been dispatched to the area. Following the return
of Poloff and the party to the Embassy, Police then requested
that Poloff and the Embassy driver return to the local Police
station in the area to identify suspects in a lineup. RSO
later learned from Police that there were no suspects in
custody, but that Police wished the complaint to be filed in
the area of the crime. We have declined to send our officers
back to the area, and instead offered to file a complaint in
Harare.


5. (U) After first notifying the Foreign Ministry of the
matter and requesting its intervention, the Embassy sent a
diplomatic note to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on
November 15, vigorously protesting the incident, requesting
action to apprehend and charge those individuals responsible,
return items seized, and issue a public statement that no
Zimbabwean individual or organization has the right to
interfere with the legitimate humanitarian work of the United
Nations, any diplomatic mission including that of the United
States. The Ambassador has coordinated all our actions with
the UN ResRep. The UN has protested orally to the Foreign
Ministry Director for International Organizations, and will
send a diplomatic note parallel to the US note.

Comment:
--------------

6. (C) Although Embassy sent a diplomatic note in protest to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and interactions with Police
Headquarters in Harare were constant, the fact that the
Police were unable to respond to the scene during the 45
minute incident, even though they were informed of the
unfolding event five minutes after it started, reflects badly
on the ability / willingness of GOZ authorities to ensure the
safety of diplomatic personnel during the course of
humanitarian work. The GOZ's willingness to bring those
guilty of these offenses to justice will serve as a measure
of their commitment to working with us and other donors in
addressing the unfolding humanitarian crisis of the GOZ's own
making. However the incident is dealt with after the fact,
the actions of war veterans / settlers reflects the
continuing state of lawlessness at a time when the GOZ is
proclaiming that the agricultural redistribution exercise has
been completed. End Comment.
SULLIVAN