UPDATE ON SIT-IN BY ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES AT UNHCR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000546

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM-CAMILLE D HILL
ADDIS FOR REFCOORD JON EKLUND
CAIRO FOR REFCOORD GERARD CHEYNE
ATHENS FOR DHS JACOB ANTONINIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREF YM HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SIT-IN BY ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES AT UNHCR
SANA'A

REF: SANAA 00397

Classified By: DCM ALAN G. MISENHEIMER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. The sit-in by Ethiopian refugees reported
in reftel remains unchanged after nearly one month. A group
of refugees continues to camp outside UNHCR's Sana'a offices
in the road adjacent to the residence of the DCM. Contacts
with Yemeni officials indicate willingness by the ROYG to
permit the demonstration to continue until a complete
solution to the refugees' situation, i.e. resettlement to the
U.S. or Canada, is found. DHS regional refugee coordinator
might consider postponing travel to Yemen if demonstrators
obstruct upcoming case screening visit by our overseas
processing entity ICMC. End Summary.


2. (C) Post has sustained an active dialogue with ROYG
authorities regarding the ongoing sit-in strike by Ethiopian
refugees -- members of the armed forces of the previous
regime -- reported reftel. In a meeting on March 1 with
Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Noman, Pol/Econ Chief raised
Post's concerns about the demonstration and the potential
security threat to the DCM's residence. Noman agreed that
there is a real security concern and promised to discuss the
matter with Foreign Minister Qirbi. After the meeting, the
MFA confirmed that that conversation had occurred and would
be followed up by further discussions.


3. (U) The demonstrators addressed a letter to the Embassy
seeking U.S. intervention. CONS Chief sent a written reply
urging continued engagement with UNHCR and the ROYG.


4. (SBU) RSO met with BG Ahmed Sunidar, the Interior
Minister's Chief of Staff, on March 8 to express Mission's
growing concern about the security risks posed by the
well-publicized continuing demonstration. During the meeting
the RSO made several attempts to get Sunidar on record as to
whether the ROYG would or would not move the demonstrators or
end the demonstration. Sunidar would only offer to add more
security. Throughout the discussion Sunidar emphasized
political and historical aspects of the situation maintaining
that the solution rests with UNHCR and ultimately the U.S.
and Canada - the countries to which most of the refugees seek
resettlement. Sunidar joked that, even if the DCM moved his
residence, the demonstration and UNHCR might follow.


5. (C) Comment. Based on multiple contacts with the ROYG
during the last month concerning this ongoing situation it is
clear that the ROYG is permitting the demonstration to
continue in the hope that the problem posed by the presence
of several hundred former Ethiopian sailors will be solved by
an outside actor -- UNHCR and/or the United States. There
are anecdotal reports of demonstrators falling ill, but no
visible indication that the demonstrators' resolve is
flagging. With the ROYG, similarly, showing no inclination
to act and UNHCR privately expressing frustration at the
impasse, Post is concerned that the upcoming visit by our
overseas processing entity ICMC, during which cases referred
by UNHCR will be screened at the Sheraton Hotel, may become a
new or second locus of the demonstration. If this should
occur and materially hamper ICMC's ability to screen
qualified referrals, the DHS regional representative may wish
to consider postponing travel to Yemen set for next month
lest similar demonstrations dominate the visit and impede
other work. End Comment.
HULL