Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANJUL23
2007-01-18 17:07:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: REPORTED GOTG DECISION TO PLACE

Tags:  ASEC PTER PGOV PREL GA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0016
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJL #0023 0181707
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 181707Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7235
INFO RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 7284
S E C R E T BANJUL 000023 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV PREL GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: REPORTED GOTG DECISION TO PLACE
EMBASSY UNDER SURVEILLANCE


Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (C AND D)

S E C R E T BANJUL 000023

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV PREL GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: REPORTED GOTG DECISION TO PLACE
EMBASSY UNDER SURVEILLANCE


Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (C AND D)


1. (C) On January 17, Embassy received e-mail message from
knowledgeable source and transmitted through Embassy Dakar
claiming that the GOTG had decided to place the Embassy under
surveillance out of concern that the Embassy was secretly
recruiting both Gambians and non-Gambians for "possible
deployment to Iraq." (Embassy passed e-mail to Dept. -- DS
and AF/W). Following receipt of e-mail, Ambassador conveyed
Embassy's Emergency Action Committee (EAC),and members
agreed that Embassy's security posture remained appropriate.
EAC members also agreed that the capacity of the GOTG's
security apparatus to conduct surveillance was exceedingly
limited and that such activity would not pose a significant
security threat to the American community, official or
private. It was also noted that GOTG surveillance of the
Embassy was not new, as, in the past, FSN employees had
occasionally reported the presence of persons near the
chancery that were known to be officials of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA).


2. (S/NF) COMMENT: The reported GOTG decision to place the
Embassy under surveillance is also being covered in SIMO
channels. We do not know the basis for the GOTG's concern
about Embassy's alleged secret recruitment of persons for
service in Iraq, although security officials may have picked
up expressions of interest by local residents in working in
Iraq for the U.S. We note, in this connection, that Embassy
recently received a letter from a Gambian youth indicating a
desire to join the U.S. military and serve in Iraq. END
COMMENT
STAFFORD