FILIPINO ENVOY RESEARCHING TRAFFICKING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001246 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, GTIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TIP KU SUBJECT: FILIPINO ENVOY RESEARCHING TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS/POSSIBLE MOVE OF EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On August 7, a Filipino Presidential Envoy visited Post as part of a fact-finding mission in the investigation of reports of Filipino citizens being trafficked by a Kuwaiti firm into Iraq to build the new American Embassy. According to the delegation, the Kuwaiti firm is cooperating conditionally, offering them transportation to Iraq contingent upon State Department permission. While in Baghdad, the delegation plans to interview alleged trafficking victims and assess a new site for the Filipino Embassy. End Summary. Filipino Presidential Envoy visits Post -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On August 7 Ambassador Roy A. Cimatu, Special Envoy to the Middle East from the Office of the President of the Philippines met with Charge to discuss ongoing investigations of whether or not Filipino workers were trafficked to Baghdad to work at the New American Embassy Compound. Ambassador Cimatu was aware of and agreed with the conclusions of the April 30, 2007 DOS Inspector General's Memorandum disputing trafficking allegations and remarked on the "untruthfulness of the allegations." He stated that the purpose of the visit to Post was to obtain "State Department permission" for travel to Baghdad and access to some 51 Filipino construction workers in Baghdad alleged to have been trafficked by First Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting Co. According to the delegation, the allegations of trafficking came from Rory James Mayberry, a former medic of the Kuwait-based company who allegedly accompanied the Filipino workers on a flight from Kuwait to Baghdad o/a March 23, 2006. The delegation consisted of the Filipino Ambassadors to Kuwait City and Amman, as well as the CDA, Labor Officer and other members of the local embassy staff. Filipino action plan -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Cimatu said that he will seek to obtain the flight manifest from First Kuwaiti of the names of the 51 Filipinos who Mayberry allegedly flew with o/a March 23, 2006. He then hopes to travel with approximately six other individuals to Baghdad to meet with the 51 workers and to conduct an investigation similar to the one conducted by the Inspector General. His goal is to meet with specific individuals and determine whether or not they were deceived or forcibly taken to Iraq, as alleged. Cooperation from First Kuwaiti? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to Cimatu and Filipino Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya, First Kuwaiti offered to the delegationtransportation to Baghdad contingent upon receiving "State Department permission" for the visit. Cimatu and Endaya suspect that First Kuwaiti is not sincere in its offer and is actually trying to impede their investigation by creating bureaucratic hurdles. The Filipino delegation also requested USG security protection from Baghdad airport to the Green Zone. Post's Management Section is coordinating with Embassy Baghdad and the NEA Bureau. Plans to move Embassy of the Philippines in Baghdad -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While in Baghdad, the CDA accredited to Iraq, Wilfredo R. Cuyugan (currently posted in Amman),plans to make a site assessment and possible recommendation to move the Embassy of the Philippines from the Red Zone into the Green Zone. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * KUWAIT 00001246 002 OF 002 ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER