ANGOLA: EVENTS SURROUNDING DETENTION OF GLOBAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000175

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF FRAZER AND THOMPSON AND AF/S; DRL FOR LOWENKRON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA: EVENTS SURROUNDING DETENTION OF GLOBAL
WITNESS ACTIVIST DR. SARAH WYKES

REF: LUANDA 172

Classified By: Amb. Cynthia Efird for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) With reference to the arrest and detention of Dr.
Sarah Wykes, of the Global Witness NGO, Embassy Luanda has
compiled the following chronological outline of events, which
we hope will present the facts and clear up some
misperceptions of the train of events.


2. (C) Chronology of Events:

Wednesday February 14, 2007

-- Dr. Sara Wykes meets with Ambassador and DCM, US Embassy
Luanda

Friday, February 16, 2007

-- Dr. Wykes travels to Cabinda

Saturday, February 17, 2007

PM
-- Dr. Sarah Wykes, accompanied by local activists and
former members of the group Mpalabanda, visits and
photographs social projects in Cabinda which were
constructed/carried out with oil revenue money. Note: It is
illegal in Angola to photograph government buildings
according to law. In addition, according to the August 2006
Memorandum of Peace and Understanding (MOU) for Cabinda,
Mpalabanda was declared an unregistered political entity and
was ordered to disband. Mpalabanda refuses to accept the
2006 MOU and has publicly disassociated itself from the
umbrella organization to which it had previously belonged
that negotiated the deal. End note.

Dr. Wykes is questioned by police in Cabinda for about 30
minutes.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

5:30 AM -- Police arrive at Dr. Wykes, hotel room to
question her. She calls a well-known Angolan human rights
lawyer, David Mendes, who had traveled to Cabinda with her
for advice. Upon his arrival, she opens the door to the
police.

-- Dr. Wykes taken to Police Station; camera is seized by
police.

PM
8:30 PM -- British Ambassador calls Ambassador Efird

-- Ambassador Efird calls Vice Minister of External
Relations, Jorge Chicoty, to advise him on the situation and
international interest in the situation. Amb. Efird requests
his intervention in securing her immediate release.

Monday, February 19, 2007

AM
9:20 -- Ambassador Efird intervenes with US company to
secure transport to Cabinda for British Consular Officer

-- Dr. Wykes arraigned and bail figure estimate released )
18,000 kwanza (approximately 2,250 USD).

PM
-- British Embassy and US Embassy consult throughout the
day; US Embassy also offers help in logistical arrangements
to transfer bail money from Luanda to Cabinda.

-- British Consul arrives in Cabinda and is granted immediate
consular access to Dr. Wykes

-- British Embassy, while responding to early radio
interviews, has not issued press statements due to the fact
that this is a consular case.


Tuesday, February 20, 2007 ) Angolan National Holiday

-- Banks closed due to national holiday. Thus, bail can not
be deposited nor can subsequent paperwork be completed.

-- Dr. Wykes remains in jail in cell with one other detainee.
Local human rights activists request, and are accorded, as a
courtesy, the ability to monitor her treatment from an
adjoining cell.

-- British Consul returns to Luanda

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

13:30 -- Dr. Wykes released from jail in Cabinda.

-- Passport returned to Dr. Wykes

-- US Embassy personnel in direct contact with British
Embassy throughout the day and meet with British DCM for a
debrief of the situation

Thursday, February 22, 2007

AM
-- Faxed letter from Senators Leahy et al arrives Embassy
Luanda with a cover letter to Ambassador Efird praising
Embassy Luanda's interventions and requesting that their
letter of concern be forwarded to President dos Santos.

-- Diplomatic Notes 030 and 031 delivered to the MIREX for
transmission to the President and Attorney General per
Senator Leahy,s request

PM
-- Dr. Wykes meets with Cabindan Attorney General

-- Attorney David Mendes travels to Luanda to submit papers
requesting permission for Dr. Wykes to respond to the court
proceedings in Cabinda from outside the province. This would
allow for her to leave Cabinda and Angola.

-- British DCM advises Embassy that he has spoken to Dr.
Wykes at least six times during the day and that she is in
good health, calm, and in the company of colleagues from the
Open Society Institute. British DCM also tells Embassy that
he has spoken to Dr. Wykes, lawyer who feels confident that
she will be granted the permission to leave Cabinda and
arrive in Luanda on Friday, February 23, 2007.

Friday, February 23, 2007

AM
-- David Mendes, Dr. Wykes, lawyer, tells emboffs that he
has consulted with the Angolan Attorney General and
understands that the paperwork granting permission for Dr.
Wykes, to respond to court proceedings has been signed and
is awaiting release. This paperwork would allow Dr. Wykes to
leave Cabinda and Angola

PM
-- British Ambassador during his periodic calls updating
Ambassador Efird is less sanguine. They coordinate a
strategy of political contacts in Luanda, with the British
Ambassador making official calls and the US Ambassador
reinforcing the message informally at an Angolan military
reception for the USS Kauffman on Friday evening and with
private phone calls on Saturday and Sunday, if Dr. Wykes must
remain in the hotel in Cabinda, unable to travel to Luanda.

End Chronology of Events.


3. (SBU) Embassy will notify Washington if additional support
is needed over the weekend.
EFIRD