AMBASSADOR HANDS CNP COMMISSIONER HOK LUNDY HIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000482 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y--ADDED FBI INFO ADDRESSEE SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP, DRL, PRM, S/CT, S/P, CA, G, P, DS AND EAP/RSP FBI FOR FUENTES HANOI PASS HO CHI MINH CITY BANGKOK FOR MICHAEL HONNOLD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HANDS CNP COMMISSIONER HOK LUNDY HIS U.S. VISA WITH CONDITIONS PHNOM PENH 00000482 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Officer Gaurav Bansal for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador presented a pleased Cambodian National Police (CNP) Commissioner General Hok Lundy with his passport and visa to the U.S. He pressed him to do more to combat TIP, particularly in the beach resort of Sihanoukville and to continue investigating how the owner and manager of Chai Hour II were let out of prison and allowed to resume business. The Ambassador pointed out that the positive visa decision came with the condition that Lundy visit the State Department to discuss TIP. General Lundy welcomed the proposed consultations and added that he also wished to meet representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) to discuss the Cambodian returnee program and the FBI to talk about cooperation with the Legatt office. He acknowledged the problems with the police in Sihanoukville but stated that his police force did not know about the Appeals Court decision releasing the owner and manager Chai Hour II. The Ambassador also pressed the commissioner about the ten Montagnards who reportedly had just been returned to Vietnam, and expressed the hope that the upcoming elections would be both fair and peaceful. Hok Lundy informed the Ambassador that Hun Sen now wants him to remain in Cambodia to ensure election day safety; two other CNP Generals will travel to the conference. Lundy promised to provide revised travel plans to the Embassy soon. End Summary. ¶2. (C) As the Ambassador returned his passport with a U.S. visa to Hok Lundy, he informed the CNP commissioner that the decision to issue was made at the highest levels of the State Department. The Ambassador continued that the decision came with the condition that Lundy visit the State Department. The Ambassador emphasized that recently the Embassy has learned about many problems with the way TIP cases are being investigated and prosecuted in Sihanoukville by the police and courts. He mentioned that though the RGC appears to be fighting TIP properly in Phnom Penh much work needs to be done in the provinces. The Ambassador also discussed his dismay at the release of the owner and manager of the Chai Hour II. ¶3. (C) General Lundy thanked the Ambassador for the good news about his visa application. He stated that the CNP had stepped up its efforts to combat TIP. For example, he mentioned that the CNP's anti-TIP unit worked directly with the NGO AFESIP but these efforts may not be sufficient. He acknowledged that he knew about problems in Sihanoukville and promised to tackle them. Regarding Chai Hour II, he reaffirmed the RGC's stance that the decision to release the two men was made by the Appeals Court, and he pleaded ignorance about their release. But he emphasized that the CNP has returned the convicts to jail and will ensure that they serve their sentences. Lundy pondered that the case pointed out the need for a systematic clamp down on corruption in Cambodia. ¶4. (C) Turning to his upcoming trip to the U.S., the head of the CNP welcomed a visit to the State Department to discuss TIP as well as a meeting with the FBI to discuss joint efforts to tackle crime. Lundy also proposed a meeting with the D.H.S. to discuss the Cambodian returnees. He informed the Ambassador that the Prime Minister has asked him to stay in Cambodia to ensure the April 1 commune elections were problm-free; as a result, he would send two other CNP generals to the conference in Las Vegas. However, he looked forward to going to the U.S. soon and asked for Embassy help in making appointments in Washington. He also hoped that his visit would increase trust between the RGC and the USG. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador told Lundy that he hoped that the upcoming commune council elections would be safe and peaceful for the voters, and candidates. The DCM mentioned that the Embassy will deploy some 40 observer teams. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador also raised with Hok Lundy U.S. concern about the refoulement of Montagnards, indirectly referencing a March 26 Cambodia Daily article alleging that police in Ratanakiri apprehended and returned to Vietnam ten Montagnards on March 23. (Note. Although the provincial governor and police chief denied the incident occurred UNHCR PHNOM PENH 00000482 002.2 OF 002 confirmed with working-level police that refoulement happened -- but said one of the ten escaped. UNHCR sent a diplomatic note to the RGC asking it to confirm whether the incident happened. UNHCR estimates that there are currently 26 Montagnards in Ratanakiri and has an outstanding request to go get them. End Note.) The Ambassador noted that such an incident would be a violation of the 1951 refugee convention and urged that Montagnards continue to be given access to UNHCR. The Ambassador also asked in the letter that the RGC provide expeditious approval of UNHCR's requests to go to the northeast to pick up Montagnards. The Ambassador told Hok Lundy it was critical that the police live up to its commitments under the refugee convention. ¶7. (C) Comment: The Embassy appreciates the attention that multiple agencies and bureaus focused on the admittedly difficult question of whether Hok Lundy should be issued a visa for official travel to the United States. We welcome the decision to issue and agree fully that Hok Lundy should meet with a senior Department official to discuss ways in which Cambodia can make further progress in the battle against trafficking-in-persons. We also support Hok Lundy's proposal that that he meet with officials from D.H.S. interested in the returnee issue. We are following up with Hok Lundy's office for information about the exact dates he will be in Washington. We will pass additional information, as soon as we get it, to EAP/MLS in order to set up meetings with the Department, FBI, and D.H.S. End Comment. MUSSOMELI