OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #10

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000074

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #10

REF: A. LAGOS 70 AND PREVIOUS

B. ABUJA 76

Classified By: Acting Consul General William H. Howe for Reasons 1.4 (D
& E)

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Hostage Welfare Update
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1. (U) An Ecodrill representative attempted to set up a
delivery of medicine to sick AmCit Patrick Landry at 14:00 on
January 20. Post will monitor future communication to learn
whether the delivery arrived.


2. (U) The kidnappers initiated at least 5 separate
contacts between the night of January 19 and the morning of
January 20. In one of the communications from January 19,
they threatened that, if one hostage died, they would kill
the others. They also boasted that they had rocket-propelled
grenades and launchers and that they were better equipped
than the Nigerian military. In an e-mail from January 20,
they softened their previous demand for $1.5 billion in
environmental damage reparations, adding as an alternative
that Shell provide a firm commitment of its desire to "settle
the claim immediately." They stressed again their demand for
the release of Ex-Governor Alamieyeseigha and Asari as well
as continued threats of future attacks. A previous
communication


3. (C) Comment. Some USG and UK officials believe the
softening of the monetary demand indicates a certain level of
anxiety on the part of the kidnappers. In addition, they are
increasing their number of communications (Reuters is
receiving as many as three contacts daily now) as well as
their number of contact points. In addition to the Nigerian
State Security Service (SSS),the Associated Press, Reuters,
Tidex, Bloomberg, and possibly others have received
communications from them. End Comment.

-------------- --
Nigerian Government Response Still Disorganized
-------------- --


4. (C) The Bayelsa State Governor, Goodluck Jonathan, head
of the executive committee appointed to free the hostages,
asked British diplomats for any possible assistance. HMG
plans to establish a presence at committee meetings, request
input into any operations plan drafted, and with the approval
of the Governor invited USG representatives to participate.


5. (C) Jonathan said they have been in touch with 30
different community groups claiming to have a link with the
kidnappers, and believed three "might" be real. He said the
full committee has not met yet. They have not agreed on an
operations plan nor have they even settled a time for the
first meeting as the Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources Daukoru was unavailable. Further, the Governor did
not realize that the kidnappers had made contact with a State
Security Service (SSS) officer in Port Harcourt.


6. (C) Guy Colegate, the Shell crisis team leader in Warri,
said the Governor is isolated, acting in a vacuum with very
little support. Department of Petroleum Resources Director
Chukwueke told us the President had sent Bayelsa-native
Minister Daukoru to the capital of Yenagoa today to bolster
support for newly appointed governor Jonathan.


7. (C) Colegate also said there is a sense that there is
pressure within the military to act in the hostage situation.
Meanwhile, Shell provided the military with more than fifty
satellite phones, and there is a question as to whether they
can be accounted for. (Comment: When asked about the
phones, a Shell representative asked where USG officials got
the information. Realizing that another Shell employee had
provided the information, he then answered the question. End
Comment.)

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Attacks or Rumors of Attacks Continue
--------------


8. (SBU) Delta-based sources reported that 6 soldiers were
killed in fighting in the Ekeremor local government area,
where most believe the kidnappers are based. Chevron
reportedly shut down operations at the Riverine facility near
Escravos and requested two navy patrol boats.


9. (SBU) On January 19, junior and senior oil workers
unions issued a joint statement calling on the government to
quell instability in the Delta or "we shall not hesitate to
withdraw our members...operating in the region." A
high-level official at PENGASSAN said the message was
intended to shake the government to action. Neither he nor
the government expect it to lead to any labor action.

--------------
U.S. Mission Actions
--------------


10. (S/NF) USG officials are considering the role of Tom
Ashby, Reuters Chief Correspondent, in facilitating
communications with the hostages. He continues to provide
tapes and printouts of messages he receives, but is unwilling
to provide source information. The hostage-takers, however,
seem to trust Ashby and are relying on him for routine
communications, and have provided him with repeated signs of
life. Negotiating experts from HMG and USG believe, for
now, we should continue to work with him to reach the
hostages on humanitarian grounds.


10. (C) Along with Scotland Yard counterparts, the FBI is
developing a variety of scenarios for the recovery of the
hostages. FBI has also been in constant contact with Patrick
Landry's wife.


11. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja.
HOWE