PAKISTANI RESPONSE TO CAMEL JOCKEY CONFERENCE IN

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002889 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR L/DL KRISTINA DAUGIRDAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KCRM AE SU BG MR PK SUBJECT: PAKISTANI RESPONSE TO CAMEL JOCKEY CONFERENCE IN UAE, JUNE 26-27 REF: STATE 86406 ¶1. SUMMARY: Poloff met with Khizar Hayat Khan, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, a GOP participant at SIPDIS the UAE-hosted Camel Jockey conference in Abu Dhabi, June 26-27. Khan is preparing a longer analysis of the GOP's expectations from the bilateral MOU for his Minister and promised to share it with us later this week. Currently, however, the GOP seems quite satisfied with the proposals and framework developed with the UAE regarding compensation/rehabilitation of the Pakistani children freed from servitude as camel jockeys in the UAE. Response to specific questions detailed in reftel follow. END SUMMARY. 2.a) Does your government expect all former child camel jockeys to use the compensation process established by the MOU? Yes, but the GOP foresees a process that involves rehabilitation as well as compensation -- something with a longer-term impact on the child, the family and even the community. b) If a former child camel jockey does not pursue compensation through the MOU claims process, does the MOU permit the child or his parents instead to seek compensation in your country's courts? In the courts of the UAE? In the courts of third countries, including the United States? The GOP will allow those who do not wish to pursue compensation under the MOU to appeal directly to the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior for relief. Failing that, they may register a case in the Pakistani court system. c) If a former child camel jockey requests but is denied compensation through the MOU claims process, does the MOU permit the child or his parents then to seek compensation in your country's courts? In the courts of the UAE? In the courts of third countries, including the United States? The same process as above will prevail, appeal to the Secretary of the Ministry, then registration of a court case in Pakistan. d) If a former child camel jockey requests and receives compensation that he or his parents believe is inadequate, does the MOU permit the child or his parents then to seek additional compensation in your country's courts? In the courts of the UAE? In courts of third countries, including the United States? Same process -- appeal to the Secretary of the Ministry, followed by a court case in Pakistan. e) If the claims facility does not in fact operate in accordance with the MOU, will court actions that would otherwise be barred by the MOU become permissible? Yes, if the facility fails to operate as envisioned in the MOU, the government of Pakistan reserves the option of initiating court action (on behalf of the children) against the UAE in Pakistani courts or at an international forum. f) What steps is your government taking to ensure that the child camel jockeys (and their parents) are aware of the claims process and to facilitate the filing of claims? In addition to media (radio, television and print) campaigns, the GOP will request local religious and social leaders in the affected areas to strongly promote the process. The GOP will create mobile teams to visit the areas where the camel jockeys were recruited to explain the claims process and help process claims. The GOP already has a list of several hundred child jockeys repatriated from the UAE in the past few years, so they know the general magnitude of the problem at hand. g) Would a lawsuit in the United States seeking compensation for former child camel jockeys have any impact on the implementation of the claims facility or of the UAE-UNICEF program in your country? It would be difficult to say at present. Such a move could complicate the MOU process and may slow down the compensation/rehabilitation process. PATTERSON