TIDEX STRIKE CONTINUES; MISSION RAMPS UP EFFORTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000502

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR CA/OCS/SDENYER
STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF
STATE FOR INR/AA
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
STATE PASS DOC FOR PHUPER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR CDUFFY
STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2015
TAGS: EPET EINV CASC PGOV ASEC MOPS NI
SUBJECT: TIDEX STRIKE CONTINUES; MISSION RAMPS UP EFFORTS
TO INTERVENE

REF: LAGOS 494

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)

Summary
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1. (C) Striking Tidex employees continue to prevent Tidex
vessels and non-Nigerian crew members (approximately 45-50
expatriates),including thirteen AMCITs, from leaving the
ports of Onne, Escravos and Brass. Tidex now states
thirteen, not seventeen AMCITs, are aboard the detained
vessels. There are 10 AMCITs on seven ships at Onne (Rivers
State),and three AMCITs on two ships at Escravos (Delta
State). There are no reports of injuries. Mission has
obtained the names of the AMCITs, as well as the names and
locations of the vessels involved. The Nigerian strikers
prevented a Cameroonian-crewed ship from departing Onne Port
today, and have threatened to occupy Tidex's Lagos office on
April 4. Mission continues to speak with federal, state,
labor, and military contacts to resolve the situation
peacefully.

Number of Detained Americans Lowered to 13;
All AMCITs and Expats Safe
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2. (C) Mission has been in continuous contact with Tidex
Managing Director Vaughn. All AMCITs and other expatriates
remain unharmed. Vaughn now confirms thirteen AMCITs are
aboard the detained vessels. Reports of the total number of
ships involved have fluctuated, but Vaughn has confirmed 10
AMCITs are on board seven ships of the eleven ships at Onne,
and three AMCITs are on board two of the four ships held at
Escravos. Vaughn reports no Americans aboard the vessel at
Brass. We do not have any information on the identities of
third-country national (British, Filipino, Cameroonian, and
other) crew members, nor a complete list of all of the
detained vessels.

No Progress in Negotiations;
Strikers Threaten Office Occupation
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3. (C) MD Vaughn stated that NUPENG and PENGASSAN sent
representatives to meet with Tidex management today.
However, in line with corporate policy, the management team
refuses to meet until the strikers return to work (or at
least release the expatriate workers and the vessels
unharmed). In response, the strikers have threatened to
occupy Tidex's Lagos office on April 4. We have advised
Tidex to take appropriate security precautions in light of
this possible action.

Cameroonians Prevented from Leaving Onne
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4. (C) Two vessels at Onne, the Columbia Seahorse and
Princess Tide, are Cameroonian-registered and crewed. One of
the Cameroonian vessels attempted to depart Onne Port today,
but the Nigerian strikers threatened the Captain, and
prevented the ship from leaving. The Nigerian Navy had
offered to escort the Cameroonian vessels out of the port.
We have cautioned the senior Naval Officer in the area
against any precipitous action that may result in harm to
person or property. The situations in Escravos and Brass are
reported calm.

Navy Contacts Understand Need to Avoid Violence;
Report Strikers Not Armed
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5. (C) DATT has been in contact with Captain Oraka,
Commander of the Nigerian naval base in Port Harcourt, and
his second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Namiri
(phonetic) most of the day. LCDR Namiri said they understood
the USG and Tidex desire to avoid the use of force, and
indicated the military will not do anything to provoke the
strikers. LCDR Namiri has visited the Cameroonian vessels
Columbia Seahorse and Princess Tide, as well as the Ed Kylie,
which is captained by an AMCIT, with three AMCITs on board.
LCDR reported the strikers did not appear to be armed and
were not/not threatening the non-Nigerian crew members.
Mission Making Other Contacts for Peaceful Resolution
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6. (C) Meanwhile, Mission continues to explore avenues for
intervention by intermediaries to resolve the situation
peacefully. The Consul General has spoken with both Rivers
State Governor Peter Odili and Bayelsa State Governor
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to express our concern regarding the
safety of the AMCITs, and our desire have a peaceful
resolution of this matter (i.e., the expatriate crew and the
vessels should be released, and negotiations over the labor
issues moved to a more orthodox venue - a conference table.)
The two Governors promised to monitor the situation, and to
make sure no rash actions are taken; they offered to mediate
if necessary. Econ Off spoke with the Nigerian Labor
Congress President Adams Oshiomole, who promised to use his
good offices to help resolve the situation. Embassy is also
attempting to meet the National Security Advisor.
BROWNE