C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 003757

SIPDIS

FOR AF A/S FRAZER, DAS YAMAMOTO AND USAID AA PIERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ET UNREST ELEC
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS DIPLOMATS CUD
RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE, BUT DETAINEES WILL RECEIVE FAIR
TRIALS

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. VICKI HUDDLESTON.
REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D)



1. (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told members
of the Ambassadors Donors Group (ADG), on November 2 that
the GOE will not re-open a dialogue with the detained CUD
leadership, but left the door open to engaging more moderate
opposition members. He assured the donors that the basic
human rights of detainees would be respected and that they
would receive fair trails. Seyoum squarely blamed the CUD
for the ongoing violence. He said the GOE had been patient
and tolerant, but that peace and security must be ensured,
though the GOE would continue to use restraint. Seyoum stated
that investigations on the June demonstrations, previously
delayed for political reasons, could now begin. End Summary.


2. (U) The Nov. 2 meeting with Minister Seyoum was amid
continuing clashes between anti-government demonstrators and
security forces in various parts of Addis Ababa. Participants
in the meeting included approximately ten members of the
Ambassadors Donors Group currently chaired by Ambassador
Huddleston and Economic/Commercial Officer (note-taker.)

GOE SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
--------------


3. (C) Seyoum stated that the GOE had "gone more than half
way" in meeting the opposition's demands, given space to
deepen the democratic process, and had exercised considerable
patience. However, some members of the opposition
(specifically, the CUD) had from the beginning used the
elections as a tactic to overthrow the constitutional order.
The CUD is continuing to create "havoc and disaster in the
country," Seyoum stated. According to Seyoum, the GOE's
message has been clear and consistent: we will engage you as
partners if you commit to the democratic process. Now,
however, the CUD wants to bring a "tsunami" to Ethiopia to
destroy the EPRDF.

4. (C) Starting Monday evening, Seyoum noted, the CUD began
organizing "hard-core" constituents and transporting these
supporters to Mercato with the aim of inciting violence.
Seyoum noted that on November 1, 6 demonstrators and 2 police
officers had been killed, and 23 other individuals injured,
some seriously. Today (November 2), there were more
incidents, including road blocks and rock throwing at
vehicles near the French and British Embassies, as well as
the northern part of the city. Seyoum reported that a police
vehicle had been hit by a grenade, injuring several officers.
If necessary, reinforcements, including the armed forces,
would be called-in, Seyoum noted. Seyoum stated that the GOE
will not let the situation "get out of control."

ADG RAISES CONCERNS
--------------


5. (C) Ambassador Huddleston, speaking on behalf of the ADG,
noted ADG consensus on several key points. These include:

1) Concern about recent events, including those of November 1
and 2;
2) Concern about arrests, particularly those of the CUD
leadership, which may have stimulated the November 2
violence;
3) Regret for all loss of life;
4) Urging of all parties to engage in a dialogue to diffuse
tensions;
5) Calling on the release of detainees and the launch of
independent investigations on both the June and November
demonstrations;
6) Urging of just and timely trials for detainees as soon as
possible.

She also urged the GOE to be more open in providing space for
the opposition and for both sides to refrain from violence,
and stated that the way forward was for all groups to
participate in the democratic process.

CUD LEADERSHIP WILL FACE TRIAL, MAXIMUM SENTENCES
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Seyoum stated that the GOE will not detain all of the
CUD leadership; rather, only those few who are the "worst of
the worst" have been detained. The focus of the government,
according to Seyoum, is to bring those extreme elements--
including within the opposition leadership and those who have
played a role in participating in or calling for violence or
street action-- to justice. Seyoum said CUD Chairman Hailu
Shawel and some members of civil society, including members
of the private media and the Teachers Association, fell into
this category. Seyoum further noted that a large number of
rioters had been apprehended (approximately 1,000), but that
police had started to release them and would focus on those
cases where there was clear evidence of crimes.


7. (C) Donors urged humanitarian treatment of the detainees,
including family access to detainees and medical treatment
(NOTE: Hailu Shawel is a diabetic and was taken to his house
following his arrrest to pick up his medicines; other
detainees reportedly received similar treatment. END NOTE)
Concern was raised by donors over the apprehension of members
of civil society, including the private media. Seyoum
responded that journalists had been arrested under criminal
laws, not the press law. Seyoum assured donors that the
human rights of the detainees would be respected, including
family member access and medical attention. Seyoum stated
firmly that there was only one possibility of release for the
current detainees: through the courts. He added that the
detainees were unlikely to be released soon. Seyoum told the
donors that the trials would be fair, but that the government
would do everything to ensure that the maximum sentence would
be applied. Seyoum also indicated that the CUD as an
organization would be prosecuted, though there were no plans
to apprehend all members of the opposition leadership at this
time. Rather, the GOE was focusing on hard-line elements and
recognized there were moderate members. Seyoum also made
clear that the GOE did not consider those arrested political
detainees. Seyoum said the GOE could not understand why a
recent Amnesty International report had characterized them
that way, but he was confident that the notion would be
corrected.

DIALOGUE WITH CURRENT CUD LEADERSHIP NOT AN OPTION
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Seyoum stated the issue of dialogue was now a "closed
chapter." The GOE, according to Seyoum, had been patient and
tolerant with the opposition as long as the opposition's
actions were non-violent. The GOE had hoped that "reason
would prevail." However, the arrests were necessary to ensure
peace and security. Seyoum stated that the CUD was probably
miscalculating in believing that street action will succeed
in bringing about change. The absence of the CUD leadership
can only help the process by removing extremist elements,
Seyoum added. Given the particular vulnerabilities of a
fledgling democracy, this type of leadership "has to go",
stated Seyoum.


9. (C) Donors urged the GOE to keep an open mind in terms of
dialogue. The CUD, it was noted, is more than just the
detained leadership. Seyoum questioned who the GOE would
dialogue with. When further pressed on the need for dialogue,
Seyoum did acknowledge that the GOE would be willing to
dialogue with the opposition, but only with those "committed
to democratic principals" and who disassociated themselves
with the current leadership. A clear distinction was made
between those currently detained, with whom there would be no
dialogue, and those more moderate members of the opposition.
Seyoum also left open the door for working with the
opposition if the leadership reconstituted itself and took
its seats. Ambassador Huddleston noted that parliament could
play a positive role by supporting those opposition members
who had taken their seats and noted the importance that a
new, more independent National Election Board (for which the
Prime Minister is expected to nominate members shortly) could
play in signaling to the CUD the GOE's willingness to work
together as partners.

INVESTIGATIONS ON JUNE DEMONSTRATIONS MAY BEGIN
-------------- --


10. (C) Seyoum stated that the investigations had been
delayed due to political considerations. Specifically, there
had been concern that the political dialogue could be
threatened if the investigation moved forward since some of
the CUD leadership would be implicated in the June
demonstrations. Now, the GOE was prepared to move forward
with the June investigation, with the possibility of also
investigating the November 1-2 incidents.

GOE WILL USE RESTRAINT
--------------

11. (C) The GOE, Seyoum stressed, did not call for violence,
but rather responded to the violence in an effort to protect
the rule of law. He further stated that the GOE political
leadership will give guidance to the police to take care,
spare lives, and minimize violence. They know the cannot be
trigger happy, he noted. Understanding from the donors is
essential, added Seyoum, stating that the GOE would be
surprised if they implicated the government in the violence.
HUDDLESTON