1. (U) SUMMARY: The International Board of Broadcasters
(IBB) radio station at PK12 is back to full operations after
an explosion and subsequent detection of unexploded
ordinance (UXO) on the site. Plans for full site clearance
continue. END SUMMARY



2. (U) At 2am on May 3 an explosion took place in an unused
area of the PK12 compound, IBB's Radio Sawa site in
Djibouti, which is a former French firing range. No one was
injured and property damage was minimal.The explosion was
determined by Djiboutian authorities and the RSO to be
caused by UXO and not/not to be criminally related in any
way. RSO prohibited all USG employees from accessing the
site as a safety concern until the situation could be
further examined and resolved.



3. (U) IBB is currently pursuing full-clearance of the site
through the engagement of two possible providers: The U.S.
Military and the Djiboutian Military. Any clearance
agreement would cover the entire site, plus 150-ft. from
site perimeter. The Djiboutian military would sign a
liability waiver in case of injury to their personnel during
the clearance process. All associated costs would be borne
by IBB.



4. (U) On May 26, the RSO approved the return of American
personnel to cleared areas of the site contingent upon
posting of warning signs in multiple languages around
affected area and briefings for all personnel on safety
issues.



5. (U) Every station employee (USG and local partner) was
briefed. Security personnel at IBB and DOS, as well as Post
and IBB management approved the content of the briefing. At
Post's recommendation, each station employee signed a
statement attesting that he or she had been instructed on
which areas of IBB property were off-limits. These forms
will be kept on file by IBB.



6. (U) A team of explosives experts from Camp Lemonier
surveyed the site. In this initial survey 36 pieces of
unexploded ordinance were found and destroyed. The team
leader proposed that the Camp Lemonier group provide a full
sweep and clearance of the site in conjunction with the
Djiboutian demining team. The clearance would be a training
exercise, with minimal associated costs borne by IBB.



7. (U) Comment: It is the opinion of the team leader that
little or no additional ordinance will be found on the site;
however, there is some concern that locals are finding UXO
and bringing it to the site for disposal. The 36 pieces were
removed from an unused area of the compound that is
surrounded by a chain link fence, in addition to the usual
perimeter fence and security. No/no ordinance was found on
developed areas of the compound.



8. (SBU) The JAG at Camp Lemonier has rejected the team
leader's proposal on the following grounds:

"From 10 United States Code Section 401, entitled
"Humanitarian and civic
assistance provided in conjunction with military
operations": (a)(4) "The Secretary of Defense shall ensure
that no member of the armed forces, while providing
assistance under this section that is described in
subsection (e)(5)---(A) engages in the physical detection,
lifting, or destroying of landmines (unless the member does
so for the concurrent purpose of supporting a United States
military operation); or (B) provides such assistance as part
of a military operation that does not involve the armed
forces." (e)(5) "Detection and clearance of landmines,
including activities relating to the furnishing of
education, training, and technical assistance with respect
to
the detection and clearance of landmines."



9. (SBU) Post and IBB and question whether the JAG
interpretation is accurate given that this clearance does
not deal with landmines and would take place on USG
property. We understand that a similar project took place at
the IBB site in Kuwait in 1993, with UXO cleared by DOD. IBB
is following up through appropriate DOD channels in
Washington.

RAGSDALE