PRESS REPORTS INDIAN LISTENING POST IN MADAGASCAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANTANANARIVO 000802

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR D'ELIA
NEW DELHI FOR DAO AND POLOFF
DEFENSE FOR DIA/DHM-S
DIA WASHDC FOR ANDREW SALAMONE, ERIC LITTLEPAGE, AND SWETAL
DESAI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017
TAGS: PINR ECPS PREL MOPS MARR MCAP IN MA XO
SUBJECT: PRESS REPORTS INDIAN LISTENING POST IN MADAGASCAR

REF: HMSNG WASHINGTON DC SERIAL: X-IAC-2350-0069-07

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires George N. Sibley for reasons 1.4 B,D


1. (C) Press reports indicate the Indian Government has
opened a "listening post" on the northern coast of Madagascar
to monitor seagoing traffic in the Indian Ocean. Most
recently "Asia Times Online" reported the station took a year
to construct and opened in July to contribute to India,s
security perimeter in the region. These reports, or rumors,
have occasionally been picked up in the Malagasy media. To
date, the Indian Embassy in Antananarivo and our top Malagasy
military contacts categorically deny reports of the listening
post. The Indian Charge d'Affaires said simply, "This is an
invention of the Indian press."


2. (C) COMMENT: Post has no reason to believe the Indian
Embassy or Malagasy military are misleading us, so we
conclude this listening post may indeed be an invention of
the Indian media. Rumors first surfaced in mid-2006 at which
point we consulted our colleagues at Embassy New Delhi, who,
at the time, confirmed our suspicion that there was no truth
to this story. Post would welcome information and details on
this report from the Department or from Embassy New Delhi.
END COMMENT.
SIBLEY