ETHIOPIA: CODEL PAYNE VISIT TO CUD DETAINEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002261

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF DAS YAMAMOTO, AF/E, AND DRL: KGILBRIDE
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PHUM KJUS KDEM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: CODEL PAYNE VISIT TO CUD DETAINEES
REVEALS DIVERSE VIEWS

REF: ADDIS ABABA 02179 (AND PREVIOUS)

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. In a visit with four detained Coalition for
Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders, CODEL Payne and Poloff had
extensive discussions regarding prison conditions, evidence
being presented in their treason trial, current regional
politics, and what the future holds for Ethiopia. The
visitors saw the detainees (Berhanu Nega, Mesfin
Wolde-Mariam, Yacob Haile-Mariam, and Birtukan Mideksa)
separately, which provided an opportunity to a variety of
opinions and attitudes towards hope of possible
reconciliation with the ruling Ethiopian People's
Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). All were critical of
the trial and feel that the outcome is predetermined.
However, most appreciated Post,s efforts in monitoring the
proceedings. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On August 8, Poloff accompanied Congressman Donald
Payne and Congressional Research Staff (on detail to House
International Relations Committee) Ted Dagne to Kaliti prison
to meet with CUD leaders Berhanu Nega, Mesfin Wolde-Mariam,
Yacob Haile-Mariam, and Birtukan Mideksa, who are among the
nearly 90 opposition members, journalists, and NGO
representatives detained since November on charges of treason
and related offenses. The visitors had also requested to see
CUD Chairman Hailu Shawel, but were told that he had been
hospitalized due to conditions related to diabetes. Prison
officials insisted that the prisoners be seen individually,
rather than together as the CODEL had requested.

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BERHANU PLEASANT, BUT STAYS ON MESSAGE
--------------


3. (C) Upon arrival at Kaliti, CODEL Payne and Poloff were
led to a small office near the entrance of the prison. A few
moments later, prison guards returned escorting Berhanu Nega,
who warmly greeted the visitors. After everyone took their
seats, the prison guards left the visitors alone with
Berhanu, with no apparent monitoring of conversation.
Berhanu,s outward appearance suggested that he is now being
kept in reasonable conditions following his court-ordered
transfer for health reasons )- he wore cleaned and pressed
street clothes, was well groomed and did not appear to be
suffering for adequate food.


4. (C) Asked about prison conditions, Berhanu responded that
he is in satisfactory condition after being moved to a cell
where he "can finally breathe." He explained that he shares
his current cell with Professor Mesfin Wolde-Mariam, located
in a block of cells containing 13 other prisoners -- a
significant change from his previous detainment with 250
prisoners. Asked what he does during the day, Berhanu
explained that the prison grounds are small and there is
little to do other than read. He said he looks forward to
weekend visits from family and friends, though he complained
about guards monitoring family conversations. The
conversation then turned to the CODEL visit, as Berhanu
recalled seeing a recent state-run television broadcast
quoting Payne observing that the May 2005 elections were
"free and fair." Congressman Payne stated that in his
opinion the run-up to the elections were transparent, but
afterwards is when the country had problems.


5. (C) Berhanu then moved on to political matters affecting
the region, asking CODEL about USG policy in Eritrea and
Somalia, which Berhanu largely criticized. CODEL replied
that they shared concerns about USG policies toward Somalia.
Asked about possibility of reconciliation with the former CUD
colleagues who have taken their seats in parliament, Berhanu
became more heated, explaining that the formation of the
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) was a plot by
the ruling (EPRDF) to divide the CUD. He then claimed that
the USG "abandoned" the CUD following the elections.
(COMMENT: DOS has closely monitored the detainees, as has the
Embassy. Charge has visited Berhanu Nega twice and Embassy
has been in contact with their family members. Improvements
in prison conditions and attention to health concerns have
resulted from Embassy's intervention. END COMMENT.) CODEL
raised Payne's co-sponsorship of the "Ethiopia Freedom,
Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006" and

ADDIS ABAB 00002261 002 OF 003


detailed its provisions as Berhanu said that media reports
presented few details of the substance. Following this,
Berhanu politely excused himself, saying that other prisoners
were waiting to see CODEL and Poloff. Berhanu expressed
appreciation of Post,s efforts in monitoring the proceedings
of his trial and hoped it will continue once the trial
resumes in October.

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MESFIN STRIKES TONE OF WISE ELDER
--------------


6. (C) The next detainee brought in was Professor Mesfin
Wolde-Mariam. Seventy-six year-old Mesfin walks with a cane
and needed assistance from prison guards to make it up the
steps to the meeting room. However, when asked about his
health and prison conditions, he had very little negative to
say. Despite a spinal cord injury sustained many years
prior, he said that he has previously seen Western doctors
about the matter and that no additional treatment is
necessary. He said that otherwise his health is stable and
prison conditions are no worse than could be expected. (NOTE:
Mesfin was previously detained on treason charges in 2001 and
held for several months. END NOTE.) CODEL informed Mesfin
that he has been awarded a lifetime achievement award by the
National Academy of Sciences and that there will be a
ceremony in his honor in September. Mesfin expressed regrets
that he would not be able to accept in person, but hoped his
daughter would attend on his behalf.


7. (C) When CODEL queried Mesfin on the current political
situation in Ethiopia, Mesfin launched into a very long and
philosophical analysis of the circumstances that the EPRDF
faces, both internally and externally, as well as the
possible future of the CUD. He explained that he personally
understands the "predicament that Meles Zenawi backed himself
into" with regards to relations with Eritrea and the EPRDF's
ability to work with the CUD, saying the Meles' policies had
put him in a position in which it is difficult to solve
conflicts with either. Mesfin was not angry when discussing
political issues, but rather struck a tone of an elder
disappointed and concerned about the situation that Meles now
faces. Further Mesfin expressed hope that Ethiopia "can go
the way of South Africa in terms of reconciliation," whereby
the GoE and the CUD can finally make amends in the future,
but noted that lack of a "middle man that is trusted by both
sides." He mentioned that the churches in Ethiopia have lost
the respect they once had to serve in this capacity and that
another actor would have to mediate if the two sides are to
find agreement.

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YACOB SEEKS RECONCILIATION
--------------


8. (C) Yacob Haile-Mariam appeared in good condition and did
not report any significant problems, saying "The prison does
the best they can under the circumstances." When the topic
of the trial was raised, Yacob's tone changed considerably,
expressing anger and frustration with the prosecution's
presentation of their case. At one point, in referring to
videos presented by the prosecution in the initial stage of
evidence, Yacob, a former attorney, claimed that "If I were
the defense attorney in this case, I would consider
presenting such videos as defense evidence." Despite
weakness in the prosecution's case, he believes he will
likely be convicted in the end.


9. (C) Yacob expressed regret that that he was detained at
all, saying that he returned to Ethiopia after living in the
US to "help his country to create a better future" and still
wants to do so. He told CODEL that he "has accepted the
EPRDF as the legitimate government" and "accepted the
constitution unconditionally." He made it clear he is now
willing to talk to the EPRDF, but he "doesn't know what they
want from us8 because "after the breakdown of talks (in
2005),there has been no communication between the EPRDF and
(detainees)." Though he cautioned &We are not unanimous in
this feeling," if he were able to "hear what the EPRDF wants
from us, and gives us a proposal, then we can agree and move
on." Yacob concluded by saying that he appreciates the role
the US has played over the last year in working with the CUD
leadership, and that he is grateful that Post is actively

ADDIS ABAB 00002261 003 OF 003


following his trial.

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BIRTUKAN ANGRY AND UNAPOLOGETIC
--------------


10. (C) The final prisoner to meet with CODEL Payne and
Poloff was CUD Vice-Chair Birtukan Mideksa. A former High
Court judge, Birtukan spent most of the meeting giving her
opinions on the evidence presented in the trial and its
"predetermined outcome," complaining of poor treatment in
prison, and criticizing USG policy prior to the arrest of CUD
leaders. She began by telling CODEL not to "expect too much
fairness in the trial, because the outcome has already been
decided by the EPRDF." She went on to say that the public
has been "propagandized to believing that (she and other CUD
members) are guilty, from the accusations presented by the
prosecutor in the press." She told CODEL not to "expect for
us to be released" because the verdict is already decided due
to the fact that the "judges had been instructed" by the
EPRDF. She also complained about the prison's treatment of
other detainees. She cited complaints made by other
defendants in the prior session of the trial (reftel),as
well as generally poor treatment by officials in the women's
area of the prison.

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COMMENT: CUD LEADERSHIP DIVIDED ON WAY FORWARD
-------------- -


11. (C) None of the four detainees visited by CODEL Payne and
Poloff complained of their own mistreatment by prison
officials. In observing their interaction with guards, they
seem to be reasonably well taken care of. All prisoners
outwardly seemed to be in satisfactory condition, and none
complained of personally being denied healthcare at this
time.


12. (C) Each of the four prisoners were equally critical of
the case the prosecution has presented against them. They
remarked that the evidence was very weak, and that they
feared that, in the end, they may be found guilty despite of
the lack of a strong case by the GoE. Conversely, their
attitudes toward possible reconciliation ranged broadly. On
one end Birtukan was very defiant and critical towards both
the EPRDF and the USG, seeming much more provocative than
conciliatory. On the other end, Yacob continues to have hope
that through continued dialogue, he and other CUD leaders can
put the events of last year behind them. Mesfin also seems
to see a possible solution, though while his remarks were
positive and somewhat hopeful, he also alluded to resignation
that any resolution was probably not imminent. Berhanu,
while friendly and interactive, continued to use the harsh
rhetoric toward the GoE he has presented in the past. While
not directly discouraging any talk of resolution, he also
continues to be unbending in his attitude towards the EPRDF
and the CUDP.


13. (U) CODEL Payne did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable prior to departure.
HUDDLESTON