IN POSSIBLY HISTORIC TURN, MAURITANIANS START

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NOUAKCHOTT 000562 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EAID MR SUBJECT: IN POSSIBLY HISTORIC TURN, MAURITANIANS START (SLOWLY) TO ADDRESS ARAB-BLACK AFRICAN COMMUNAL RELATIONS REF: NOUAKCHOTT 279 NOUAKCHOTT 00000562 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- (C) Key Points -------------- -- Mauritanians have begun to take the first tentative steps towards a public discussion of the acutely sensitive issues of Arab - Black African relations, specifically the communal violence of 1989 and the return of Black African Mauritanian refugees now in Senegal and Mali. Such public discussion is very rare. -- At a public ceremony held April 25 to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of communal violence between Moors and Black Africans in 1989, attendees called on the government to organize the mass return of the estimated 20,000 Black African Mauritanian refugees living in Senegal and Mali. -- In a separate press conference, FLAM-Reform, a new Black African Mauritanian group, asked the government to bring to trial those responsible for murder, rape and kidnapping during the 1989 events. FLAM-Reform members recently broke away from FLAM, the exiled Black African Mauritanian opposition group, when they decided to return to Mauritania to participate in the new political process underway. -------------- (C) Comments -------------- -- This tentative public dialogue on such highly sensitive ethnic and racial issues is highly significant. These communal issues have smoldered here for many decades, with anger and resentment spilling over into communal violence 17 years ago. -- We sense that it is just possible that Fal is now willing to help set the stage for a democratically elected government to take up this sensitive national issue. FLAM-Reform leaders said at their press conference that they had met with Colonel Fal April 26 to discuss these issues, although the discussion had not arrived at any solutions. -- If Fal is beginning to take on the deeply divisive issue, he almost certainly will be strongly resisted by senior military officers and others who fear criminal implication in the 1989 events. -- The recent press reports in Europe that the Belgian judiciary is to consider charges of torture and crimes against humanity by ousted President Taya during the 1989 events is certain to spook further some Mauritanians here. -- Embassy intends to do all it can to support and further this critically important national conversation on inter-communal relations. Mauritania, whether now or later, will simply have to deal with the legacy of slavery that continues to infuse all aspects of society and politics. End Key Points and Comments. ¶1. (U) At a ceremony commemorating the 17th anniversary of the outbreak of ethnic violence in Mauritania, key political parties and NGO's called on the transitional government to address the plight of the estimated 20,000 Afro-Mauritanian refugees living in Senegal and Mali. ¶2. (U) In a separate press conference held May 5, FLAM-Reform, a breakaway wing of the exiled Afro-Mauritanian opposition group FLAM (reftel) renewed its call for government action to address the longstanding refugee issue, specifically demanding the arrest and trial of those involved in crimes against humanity. The refugees fled south between 1989 and 1991 -- a period referred to as the 1989 events -- to escape ethnic violence. -------------- AFTER 17 YEARS, MAURITANIANS DEMANDS ACTION NOUAKCHOTT 00000562 002.2 OF 003 -------------- ¶3. (U) The 17th anniversary ceremony, organized April 25th by the Afro-Mauritanian political party, Alliance for Justice and Democracy (AJD),drew both public and private press, NGOs, and a significant number of key political parties and party coalitions. In his opening remarks, AJD President Cheikhou Cisse asked "why has the transitional government allowed for the return of the dictator Taya (Mauritania's former president),but not for the return of these peaceful Mauritanian citizens?" Cisse discussed the current situation of the refugees and invited a former refugee on stage who described the harsh living conditions for refugees "without a country...and without rights." Cisse said "the refugees will not return without guaranties (from the transitional government),because they have watched the others who have returned and have still not recovered their rights." Cisse ended his remarks by saying "enough is enough," a theme repeated by others throughout the day. ¶4. (U) Prominent speakers representing the Afro-Mauritanian community included Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice President Ba Mamadou Alassane and Mohamed Ould Dellahi, current President of the Afro-Mauritanian political party coalition Bloc for Change. These figures joined Cisse in demanding a transitional government-sponsored mass return of refugees. Additionally, they called on the government to return lands, homes, and jobs these Mauritanians were forced to leave behind, and offer each a "just remuneration" package for their suffering. ¶5. (U) Following the ceremony, participants were pessimistic about the potential for government action. Alassane said that he "hadn't seen any good will from the transitional government" on this issue, while former Popular Progressive Alliance (Afro-Mauritanian political party) deputy Sarr Ibrahima and FONADH (NGO coalition) president Sarr Amadou said that the "transitional government won't address this issue...because it is too complicated." However, participants held some hope that the "24 Commitments" the transitional government had submitted to the European Union on November 30, which included a commitment to "facilitate the return" of Mauritanian refugees, might force some action on the part of the transitional government. -------------- - FLAM-REFORM CALLS FOR ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS -------------- - ¶6. (U) In a press conference May 5, FLAM-Reform leaders called on the transitional government to take action to resolve the "tragedies of the past period," including the murder, rape and kidnapping of hundreds, and deportation of thousands of Afro-Mauritanians. Specifically, they asked the government to use new genetic technologies to identify bodies in mass graves, and to bring those responsible to trial. The group also reiterated their call for a mass return of refugees, a move they consider "a first step in addressing the tragedies." ¶7. (U) At the press conference FLAM-Reform leaders said they had met with Colonel Fal April 26 to discuss these issues, but had not arrived at any solutions. ¶8. (C) Additional FLAM and FLAM-Reform remembers returned to Mauritania last week after years in exile. While many FLAM members remain abroad, the return of these figures indicates a shift in the organization towards a more active in-country role. Whereas the organization had spent the past years criticizing Taya from abroad, they now appear to be shifting towards increased domestic involvement in the political transition. -------------- CHARGES AGAINST TAYA -------------- ¶9. (U) According to press reports, the Belgian judiciary is to consider complaints concerning alleged torture and crimes against humanity committed by Taya during the 89 Events. Marc Libert, counsel for the Association of Mauritanian NOUAKCHOTT 00000562 003.2 OF 003 Soldiers, Widows and Orphans (AVOMM),which lodged the complaints, told reporters that Belgian Magistrates said all the conditions had been met to prepare a case against Taya. "Federal Prosecutor Philippe Meire received my clients and me recently, saying Ould Taya's loss of presidential immunity and the granting of Belgian nationality to one of the plaintiffs would make the case possible," Libert said. ¶10. (U) Libert said the examining Magistrate would hear from the plaintiffs in the coming days, and would then file a report with the Magistrates' committee, which will decide whether or not to charge Taya. LeBaron