REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT REFERRAL: DAOUD IBRAHIM HARI

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001339 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A, ACCRA AND NAIROBI FOR REFCOORDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF ASEC CD SU SUBJECT: REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT REFERRAL: DAOUD IBRAHIM HARI ¶1. (SBU) Embassy N'Djamena would like to refer the following refugee resettlement case. Below is the biographic information of the candidate, a description of the persecution claim, and a justification of resettlement. ¶2. (SBU) NAME: Daoud Ibrahim Hari DOB: 1973 POB: Musbat, Darfur NATIONALITY: SUDAN GENDER: MALE ¶3. (SBU) DESCRIPTION OF PERSECUTION CLAIM: Applicant fled the region for Chad in 2003 to escape persecution by the GOS against the Darfurian community. Hari arrived in Chad in April or May 2003 prior to the establishment of the refugee camps in eastern Chad, and came to N'Djamena in August or September to obtain refugee status. From 2003 to 2006, he worked as an interpreter for humanitarian organizations and international media outlets who were reporting on the humanitarian crisis and atrocities in Darfur. During this time, Daoud obtained Chadian identity papers and assumed a different name, in order to protect himself while working with journalists on sensitive issues in eastern Chad and Darfur. ¶4. (SBU) In September 2006, he accompanied Chicago Tribune journalist Paul Salopek from Bahai, Chad into Western Darfur. There, they were ambushed by Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) soldiers loyal to Sudanese presidential advisor Minni Minawi, handed to Sudanese authorities in El Fasher, and charged by the GOS with espionage, illegal entry, and the publication of false news stories. After 35 days of incarceration and chronic mistreatment, including regular beatings and other forms of inhumane treatment, their release was successful negotiated by Governor Bill Richardson. During his time in prison, Daoud was recognized as Darfurian. Upon returning to Chad, his identity as a Sudanese national became known to the Government of Chad. ¶5. (SBU) Since his return to Chad, Har has been monitored, interrogated, harassed, and threatened with deportation back to Sudan by Chadian National Security Agency authorities. According to Hari, ANS officials are accusing Hari of being a spy for the Sudanese government and having knowledge of GOS support for Chadian rebel groups trying to overthrow the current regime in Chad. Chad accuses Sudan of supporting Chadian rebels responsible for recent attacks against the Chadian government. Hari also suspects that certain ANS officials are also fearful that Hari will expose human rights abuses by the Chadian government, much as he has done in Darfur. ¶6. (SBU) On November 9, he was detained by ANS officials, who not only interrogated him for over two hours, but also physically abused him. He was hit over the head twice. He is currently being treated for his injuries, and UNHCR has offered him temporary shelter in the even that ANS officials continue to harass him. ¶7. (SBU) JUSTIFICATION FOR RESETTLEMENT: Embassy N'Djamena, which has spoken to Daoud directly and UNHCR resettlement officers, believes Daoud is under immediate threat of persecution by Chadian authorities on account of his perceived political opinions, and recommends that his case be expedited. As long as Daoud remains in Chad, he will be subject to persecution in the form of interrogation and physical abuse. Daoud is also at risk of refoulement. In Sudan, he is at risk of torture, incarceration, and even death, and Sudanese authorities still view him as complicit in Paul Salopek's activities in September. WALL