AMCIT JOURNALIST RELEASED BY NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS LAGOS 000851 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR GPERSON AND CGAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC EPET ASEC PHUM NI SUBJECT: AMCIT JOURNALIST RELEASED BY NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT ¶1. (SBU) Freelance AMCIT photojournalist Edmond Kashi, in Nigeria on assignment for National Geographic, was released today after being detained by the GON for five days. Both the CG and Deputy Consul spoke with him by phone and verified he is well. Kashi is currently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and will return to the U.S. via Lagos and Milan on June 25. ACS Officers also spoke with Kashi's spouse and emergency contact Julie Winokur during his detention. She has been informed of his release. ¶2. (SBU) On June 16, Mission learned of Kashi's detention when National Geographic staffer Kurt Mulcher contacted Charge D'Affaires. Initially, Kashi was detained by Naval personnel. Navy sources claimed he was detained for photographing oil installations in Bayelsa State without having first obtained the proper authorization. The Navy turned Kashi over to the State Security Service (SSS) on June ¶18. Efforts in recent days to verify his detention and location resulted in often incomplete and conflicting information. Post continued to convey our concern through the Bayelsa and Rivers States Governors, police, NGO, and industry contacts. Kashi says the SSS generally treated him well during his detention, but he was anxious regarding his release. ¶3. (SBU) NGO activists Oronto Douglas and Von Kemedi played active roles in securing Kashi's release, and the two activists were the first people to see him upon his release. They are currently with him in Port Harcourt. BROWNE