UNCONFIRMED TUBERCULOSIS AND ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001936

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM - ROD MACKLER, NANCY IRIS, KATHERINE
PERKINS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2014
TAGS: SMIG PGOV PHUM CU BF
SUBJECT: UNCONFIRMED TUBERCULOSIS AND ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT
NASSAU DETENTION CENTER


Classified By: Political Chief Michael P. Taylor, Reasons 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 18, 2004, Amnesty International
released a report alleging the abuse of two Cuban
asylum-seekers and several Haitian detainees at the
Carmichael Road Detention Center in Nassau. Severe
conditions including deprivation of food and water, an
outbreak of tuberculosis, and the denial of medical treatment
were also highlighted in this report. Bahamian officials
denied the allegations, stating that one Cuban detainee had
manifested tuberculosis-like symptoms, but had been taken to
the hospital and found to have AIDS instead. A visit by
embassy personnel to the detention center on October 18
revealed no obvious signs of abuse or disease. The one
American citizen who had been detained at the center was
released and sent back to the U.S. on October 19. END
SUMMARY.

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One AIDS Case Diagnosed
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2. (C) Two large sloops each with approximately 100 Haitians
on board were interdicted by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force
(RBDF) in late September. The Embassy's Coast Guard Liaison
Officer and Political Officer arranged to interview the
migrants on October 8, but the appointment was canceled at
the last minute due to unspecified "internal problems. An
RBDF officer unofficially told the embassy that there was an
outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) at the center.


3. (C) The Deputy Director of Immigration told the embassy
on October 19 that confusion had occurred when a Cuban
migrant manifested tuberculosis-like symptoms. He was taken
to the government-run hospital and diagnosed to have AIDS,
however, not tuberculosis. The detention center's Chief
Superintendent confirmed that a medical team had been
dispatched to the center for follow-up, but that no cases of
TB were found.

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Amnesty International Alleges Physical Abuse
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4. (U) On October 18, Amnesty International released a
report alleging that Haitian and Cuban detainees had been
beaten and mistreated at the detention center. According to
the report, two Cuban asylum-seekers, Rene Mendoza Banos and
Jorge Luis Conde, were beaten with batons on October 1 and
then subjected to a mock execution. The Cuban detainees are
reportedly members of the "Partido Democratico 30 de
Noviembre" who left Cuba to escape police harassment.
Amnesty also alleged that several Haitians were seriously
injured and denied medical treatment on October 9-11 after
being beaten in retaliation for an escape of Haitians on
October 9.


5. (C) Bahamian officials confirm that six or seven Haitians
did recently escape and are currently being sought by law
enforcement officials. All of the other Haitians interdicted
at the end of September have been repatriated back to Haiti.

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Embassy Personnel Visit Detention Center
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6. (C) On October 18, Consular Officer, accompanied by the
Coast Guard Liaison Officer and the Political Officer,
visited a female American citizen being held at the detention
center for vagrancy. The Consular Officer confirmed her
citizenship and arranged for her departure on the evening of
October 19 to Miami.


7. (C) Embassy personnel spoke only to the American citizen
and detention center officials. Upon casual observation,
approximately 100 detainees remain at the center. They
appear to be mainly Cubans. The detainees showed no obvious
injuries and seemed to be in generally good health.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) The asylum-seeking process for Cubans in The Bahamas
is a long and arduous one. Bahamian immigration officials
interview detainees and make recommendations to the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees, which in turns makes
recommendations to the Bahamian cabinet for final decision.
Only six refugees were recommended for asylum in 2003; the
rest were designated for repatriation to Cuba.


9. (C) To repatriate Cuban nationals to Cuba, however, the
Bahamian government must receive permission from the
Government of Cuba on a case-by-case basis. The Cuban
government supposedly does an in depth investigation into the
individual's background and situation, a process which can
takes months if not a year, while the migrants remain at the
detention center at Bahamian expense. Similarly, once the
Cuban government decides to accept a Cuban migrant, the
Bahamian government must bear the financial burden of
repatriating them. Speeding up the repatriation process is
reportedly one of the reasons why The Bahamas recently agreed
to open an embassy in Havana.

ROOD