Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA926
2006-04-06 16:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

PROGRESS ON INTERNAL SITUATION: DAS YAMAMOTO MEETS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM ET 
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VZCZCXRO4709
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #0926/01 0961619
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 061619Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9880
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ADDIS ABABA 000926 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S FRAZER, AF/E, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: PROGRESS ON INTERNAL SITUATION: DAS YAMAMOTO MEETS
WITH DETAINED CUD OPPOSITION LEADERS

REF: A. A)ADDIS 897 B)ADDIS 667

B. C)05 ADDIS 4202

Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reason 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ADDIS ABABA 000926

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S FRAZER, AF/E, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: PROGRESS ON INTERNAL SITUATION: DAS YAMAMOTO MEETS
WITH DETAINED CUD OPPOSITION LEADERS

REF: A. A)ADDIS 897 B)ADDIS 667

B. C)05 ADDIS 4202

Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reason 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. For over two hours on March 31 DAS
Yamamoto, Charge and DCM met with five members of the
detained leadership of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
(CUD): Berhanu Nega, Dr. Yakob Hailemariam, Hailu Shawel,
Gezachew Shiferaw, and Mesfin Woldemariam. The detainees, who
appeared in relatively good health and made no complaints
about their conditions of detention, expressed deep concern
for the future of the country, stating that they feared armed
conflict. The country needs democracy, reconciliation and
dialogue, they said, and they reiterated their commitment to
peaceful change. They expect their trial to take several
years in a judicial process that is not free from ruling
party interference, they said. They are disappointed that
the U.S. has not called for their release but rather for a
quick and fair trial. DAS Yamamoto told the detainees that
the U.S. is committed to their release as a fundamental
condition to long term stability and democracy. The
detainees listened to the charge's suggestions on reducing
the political tension by agreeing to be more cooperative
within a democratic process and by not opposing engagement of
their memebers in the Parliament and City Hall. While the
detainees remain opposed to political engagement, Prime
Minister Meles is making a good faith effort to engage the
parliamentary opposition. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During DAS Yamamoto's call on Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi on March 30 (reftel),charge requested and received
permission to visit the detainees, the first such permission
given to USG representatives. The next day, March 31, DAS
Yamamoto, Charge and DCM met with five detainees at Kaliti
Prison on the outskirts of Addis. Guards brought the
detainees to a small office for the meetings but did not
monitor or restrict the meetings in any way.

--------------
MEETING WITH BERHANU NEGA
--------------


3. (C) The USG group first met individually with Dr. Berhanu

Nega (mayor-elect of Addis Ababa) who looked well and joked
that he preferred prison to the six month post-election
period when he said he was harassed and followed. He said
that he was being held in a hall with some 300 other
prisoners, but separate from the other detainees. DAS
Yamamoto began the conservation by referring to his testimony
at the congressional hearing on Ethiopia that was held on
March 28. Dr. Berhanu said that he had heard this on Voice
of America but that he was "terribly worried" about the
country, which he described as on the threshhold of military
conflict. The country needs reconciliation and dialogue, he
said; the so-called "judicial process" is hardly that. The
charge responded by saying that political engagement is
needed by working with elected members of parliament. This
Dr. Berhanu rejected, saying that no improvement was possible
as the ruling party is "vicious, full of trickery and lies."
The problem, he said, is the "control-freak mentality" of the
current regime which is "driven by hatred." He said that the
CUD is not interested in who is in power but rather in
establishing a real, functioning democracy, and in what will
happen in five years (when the mandate of the current
government will run out). In response to DAS Yamamoto's
question on who in the opposition the USG should be talking
to, Dr. Berhanu stated that the CUD should be recognized as a
legitimate political party and that discussion should take
place on democratization and peaceful change. DAS Yamamoto
stated that the USG concern is the detainees and the need for
political reform in order for Ethiopia to develop and move
forward. The charge said that the US and other partners are
working to try to reduce the tension as the trial goes
forward. The US and the EU are working with the opposition
on institution building and a more effective Parliament and
to create a CUDP that can effectively take control and run
Addis Ababa. Dr. Berhanu responded that the detainees would
not be party to a charade. Among the charging documents are
several "plants" and a forgery; nothing, he said, justifies
the government's actions of June 8 and November 2005 (when
violent confrontations between demonstrators and law
enforcement and military forces took place.) When DAS
Yamamoto raised the possibility of clemency after the

ADDIS ABAB 00000926 002 OF 004


completion of the trial, Dr. Berhanu was dismissive, saying
that the detainees want the right to participate in the
political process.Dr. Berhanu said that people are upset with
U.S. policy in Ethiopia and accused the charge of helping to
create an alternate leadership for CUD. Both DAS Yamamoto
and the charge reiterated that the USG is pushing for
political reform and for the eventual release of the
detainees so that they can again play a leadership role in
the political process.

--------------
MEETING WITH HAILU SHAWEL, YAKOB HAILEMARIAM AND GIZACHEW
SHIFERAW
--------------


4. (C) The USG group next met with three detainees
together: Dr. Yakob Hailemariam, former prosecutor at the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha; Hailu
Shawel, CUD Chairman; and Engineer Gezachew Shiferaw, member
of the CUD executive committee. (Note. In reponse to a query
on his health, Hailu Shawel said that his eyes are improving
and that he is having some therapy for his back, although he
believes he needs a specialist for his back. End note.) Dr.
Yacob explained that according to Ethiopian law the detainees
cannot be released on bail, given the charges against them.
The trial itself, he said, will take at least three years, as
the prosecution intends to call some 363 witnesses. In fact,
he said, the detainees are not happy with the U.S. position
which calls for a fair trial to proceed quickly. By
contrast, he said, the EU has called for the unconditional
release of the detainees. According to Hailu Shawel,
democracy has been systematically demolished, with political
structures destroyed. The political gains of the four years
leading up to the May 2005 elections have been erased with
the mass arrests and killings following the elections, he
said. DAS Yamamoto emphasized the U.S. concern for political
reform and the respect of human rights.


5. (C) The charge said that work is underway to move the
process forward, citing follow-up to the US-EU post-election
statement. Is it possible, she asked, that the detainees
could engage in the judicial process and make a statement on
what is best for the country? Hailu stated, "we are not
criminals. You can't criminalize politics and get democracy
out of it, he said, and therefore we are not going to
participate. Hailu alleged that the government plans to use
forged documents as evidence at the trial. Liars are being
trained to testify against us, he said, and if they refuse,
they are jailed. The court case is absurd, with everything is
in the hands of the government, Hailu said; we have nothing
left to give. In response to charge's suggestion that a way
forward is to engage more, he said that the U.S. is an ally
but it is not listening, which undermines U.S. interests.
You are making a playing field for terrorists, he accused,
saying that people are aroused all across Ethiopia, and
predicting that more will die. According to Hailu, the
regime will tolerate only weak opposition parties, such as
the EPRDF (ruling party) affiliates that are established in
regions throughout Ethiopia.


6. (C) DAS Yamamoto reminded the detainees that the U.S.
condemned the voilence of June 8 and November. Your
continued detention, he added, is detrimental to the
political process. Dr. Yacob said that the only way out of
this political impasse for Meles is to reduce charges and
grant bail; however, pardon after the completion of the trial
is not an option as the detainees would be finished
politically, Dr. Yacob said. Only Engineer Gizachew and Dr.
Yacob indicated some willingness to respond positively to the
charge's suggestion that the detainees help to reduce
political tension by acknowledging positive changes that have
taken place over the past five months.

--------------
MEETING WITH MESFIN WOLDEMARIAM
--------------


7. (C) Finally the USG group met with human rights activist
(and former Fulbright scholar) Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam who
walked slowly with a cane but said that he is one the few who
is not seeking medical attention. DAS Yamamoto said that he
had seen the professor's daughter (Mekdes) at the March 28
hearing where she testified as well. Prof. Mesfin said that
he had heard his daughter on a Voice of America broadcast.

ADDIS ABAB 00000926 003 OF 004


"I don't know why I'm here," he began, stating that he has
never advocated violence nor even capital punishment. We're
waiting to see what happens, he said, as all moderate voices
have been stifled; they are in jail or in exile. According
to Prof. Mesfin, the only avenue left is to "go to the
woods," as the Tigray People's Liberation Front did, as
Ethiopian history is one of wars. These last years have been
an experiment on peaceful struggle, he said, which raised the
expectations of the people. There was hope, but now this has
been crushed; there are no hopeful signs at present, he said,
with no freedom of expression and the media not covering what
is going on in Ethiopia. Only a political solution is
possible, Prof. Mesfin said, as people to need to talk and to
compromise. He dismissed the "so-called judicial process,"
stating that Meles does was he wants and tampers with the
system as he wishes. The PM has "evil counsel," and the
ruling party was "wounded" by the election, Mesfin said; all
they understand is "put you under my boot."


8. (C) The charge said that there is now some flexibility
on the part of the government, such as allowing U.S.
diplomats to visit the detainees, and that a political
solution may be possible after the trial. If the CUD forms
itself anew as a political party, she added, the political
process will be able to move forward (as it did when Mandela
was emprisoned in South Africa) and it would be there when
the detainees are released. Prof. Mesfin replied that in
Ethiopia, a religious country, there is "religiosity in
politics," which allows for no compromise. Could there have
be magnanimity in post-election period, he asked
rhetorically. Neither side was able to do this, Prof. Mesfin
said. How can we build confidence with the ruling party that
lacks confidence in itself? Prof. Mesfin said that the CUD
leadership emprisoned would eventually get out, but "into
what?"


9. (C) In fact, he added, those of us in prison are better
off than Meles who has two thorny problems: Eritrea and the
internal situation. The internal situation must be
disentangled from Eritrea which will exploit the situation
and try to force armed struggle. Prof. Mesfin concluded that
Ethiopia needs to look forward, to see how to bring about
change in "an honest political situation". All have a stake
in this country, Prof. Mesfin said, and we must focus on the
future, with confidence; we do not believe in armed struggle;
rather, we need to learn political rather than armed combat
to bring about change.

--------------
PM Meles on the opposition
--------------


10. (C) During DAS Yamamoto's call on Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi on March 30 (reftel A),charge stated the future of
the country lies in the government's and opposition's
abilities to move forward and engage in the democratice
process. The process now is "stuck" because of the continued
detention of the opposition leadership which has strong
support from the diaspora. Recognizing that both sides need
to respect the rule of law unconditionally, charge asked if
there might be a legal opening to resolve this matter. PM
Meles said that once the trial had run its course it may be
possible, taking into consideration the detainees behavior
during the trial, to consider some sort of clemency, although
this is really an issue for the president of the country and
the minister of justice. He stated categorically that there
is no quid pro quo and there will be no negotiations with the
detainees. Their release is a "red line," he stated. On
CUDP efforts to reform or reconstitute itself, the PM said
that the CUDP must meet the legal requirements of the
National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE),adding that the
courts may ultimately ban the CUDP constituent parties.


11. (C) DAS Yamamoto said the March 28th congressional
hearing emphasized that dialogue is needed for the political
process to move forward--dialogue with the opposition as well
as dialogue with the diaspora on issues of famine, human
rights, political reform, etc. The PM responded that the CUD
(detainees and diaspora) wants to damage the image of the
government in order to threaten donor funding and limit
resource flows so that the government will fall. Ethiopia
should have received USD 1.6 billion in development
assistance this year, Meles said, but only USD 270 million
has come in. However, we will weather this storm, he said,

ADDIS ABAB 00000926 004 OF 004


as additional funds are delayed but expected to come.

--------------
Comment
--------------


12. (C) This is the first time U.S. government personnel
have had access to any of the "Hailu Shawel" detainees since
their November 2005 incarceration. Not surprisingly, they
continue to resist engagement with the government on finding
a way forward, in part due to support from the diaspora who
also advocate non-engagement and because this has always been
their position, even prior to the November riots and their
detention. Their position is simply we won the elections and
we will only particpate in the democratic institution if our
previous conditions are met. One of the conditions now is
their release from jail. We do not believe, as some of the
detainees stated, that the country is on the verge of armed
struggle. We do see the next two years as critical for
significant progress in both economic and democratic
development. Our message will continue to be that engagement
and commitment are the way forward in the post-election
political process to develop democratic intstitutions and
processes. On April 5, charge met with local press for an
on-the-record briefing and called for support for the
opposition taking control of Addis Ababa and forming the new
CUDP. She also reiterated the USG commitment to the detained
CUD and civil society leaders and for their release so that
the democratic process can move forward.


13. (C) Meles is making a good faith effort to engage the
opposition. For the first time Meles provided some hope that
the detainees might be pardoned; however, this will greatly
depend on whether they cooperate with the judicial process
and stop trying to block the engagement of CUD MPs and city
councillors in government institutions. The Meles initiated
dialogue with the parliamentary opposition--United Ethiopian
Democratic Front (UEDF) and Oromo Federalist Democratic
Movement (OFDM)--is producing the release of prisoners in
Oromiya and a promised joint visit by the ruling party EPRDF,
OFDM and UEDF to the region. Meles said this dialogue would
be extended to United Ethiopia Democratic Party-Medhin
(UEDP-Medhin). He has also given additional time for elected
CUD representatives to organize themselves as a political
party and extended the deadline for the entry of the
opposition into city hall.


13. (U) DAS Yamamoto did not clear this cable.
HUDDLESTON