CANADA, EU TAKE DIFFERENT TACKS ON EXPULSION ORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001342 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AF/SPG, AND EUR/ERA NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM SU EUN CA SUBJECT: CANADA, EU TAKE DIFFERENT TACKS ON EXPULSION ORDER REF: A. KHARTOUM 01109 ¶B. KHARTOUM 01149 ¶C. KHARTOUM 01321 Classified By: CDA Roberto Powers, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Canada and the European Commission (EC) are taking two different tacks on Sudan's threatened expulsion of their chiefs of mission. Both delegations had sent identical letters to National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Director General Salah Ghosh in early August to request information on the detention of an opposition party member, Ali Mahmoud Hassanein, who was associated with an alleged coup in July (see para. 5 for the text of the letter). During an August 25 phone call with Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol, Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier refused to apologize for the letter, and Charge Nuala Lawlor subsequently departed Sudan on August 26. Speaking with President Bashir on August 24, European Commissioner Louis Michel, however, apologized for the incident, and EC Head of Delegation Kent Degerfelt has been allowed to complete his tour in Khartoum. ¶2. (C) Lawlor told Poloff on August 24 that Canada had objected to Sudan's heavy-handed response to a "process issue." While Sudan rescinded Degerfelt's expulsion, several working-level officials at the EC delegation in Khartoum resent Brussels approach. "We should be the most outspoken on human rights since we don't have to worry about a bilateral relationship and represent 27 countries," one such official told Poloff on August 25. "Instead, we caved, which makes it harder for us to hold Sudan accountable in the future." ¶3. (C) In separate meetings with the Canadian Charge and the EC's acting head of delegation on August 23, MFA officials had complained that the letter to Ghosh should have been addressed to the Foreign Minister. They had given Canadian Charge Nuala Lawlor 72 hours to leave Sudan and had said that Degerfelt, who was then out of the country, could return for two days to close out his affairs. ¶4. (C) Hassanein, the vice president of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),was arrested in connection with an alleged coup attempt led by Umma Reform and Renewal party leader Mubarak Al Fadil (reftels). Al Fadil and 20 others, including Hassanein, have been held since July 14. A senior National Congress Party (NCP) official initially implicated the USG in the plot, though Sudan later disavowed these comments. Doubt lingers as to the true nature of the alleged coup, with many in Khartoum maintaining that it was a NCP ruse to distract the public from pressing domestic issues. ¶5. (C) The following is the text of the August 8 letter sent, under separate cover, by the Canadian and EC chiefs of mission to Ghosh: (Begin Text) Dear Mr. Ghosh, We are writing to you in regard to a case of arrest and detention of Mr. Ali Mahmoud Hassanien, lawyer and Vice President of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). According to our information, Mr. Hassanien was arrested from his home on Monday 30 July 2007. Mr Hassanien has been under detention since that date without any official charges. His whereabouts are unknown. The reason for his arrest and detention was not disclosed. The Delegation of the European Commission is deeply concerned about the case and would like to know what are the specific charged placed against him. The EC would, also, like to be informed about the place and conditions of his detention and would like to take the opportunity to request an official visit to Mr. Hassanien. The delegation would also like to request guarantee that the family of Mr. Hassanein is fully informed and allowed to visit him. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and look forward to hearing from you. (End text) ¶6. (C) Comment: While the MFA's initial complaint was that the letter regarding Hassanein was not addressed to the proper department of the Sudanese Government, this rationale has shifted to accusations of meddling in internal affairs--regardless of the letter's measured and non-acusatory tone. Sudan also announced the expulsion of CARE Country Director Paul Barker (an American citizen) on August 25, on similar grounds. The NGO community is attempting to resolve this issue behind the scenes with Sudan but may call for international support. Post is closely following both cases and will report additional details septel. End comment. POWERS