NIGERIA: ICRC DISCUSSES JOS AND VOLUNTARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002433

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DRL - KAREN GILBRIDE
DEPT PASS TO USAID/DCHA/OFDA - L. MARIE, USAID/AFR/WA - T.
WAY
DAKAR PASS TO USAID - R. DAVIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ECON ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ICRC DISCUSSES JOS AND VOLUNTARY
PRINCIPLES WITH DCM

REF: A. ABUJA 2377 AND PREVIOUS

B. ABUJA 2049

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 11, Jacques Villettaz, Regional
Delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) called on the DCM to discuss voluntary principles as
they relate to the extractive industries, particularly the
oil companies in the Niger Delta. DCM used the opportunity
to inquire about the ICRC's view on the situation in Jos (ref
A). Villettaz reported that the internally displaced persons
(IDP) camps were nearly empty and that the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA) continued to provide food. He
praised the efforts of the Nigerian Red Cross, which he said
was once considered a fraudulent, mismanaged organization,
but now was doing good work. It is rare to hear good reports
about Nigerian institutions, making the praise of the Red
Cross and confirmation of NEMA's efforts even more valuable
under the circumstances. According to Villettaz, the ICRC's
main focus was now on the more than 500 prisoners still
detained without formal charges as a result of the violence
in Jos. END SUMMARY.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN JOS
--------------

2. (C) During a December 11 meeting with the DCM and Poloff
(notetaker),Regional Delegate for the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Jacques Villettaz said he
did not think things in Jos would get worse at this time, but
maintained that the atmosphere remained tense and security
must stay vigilant. Villettaz reported that all the camps
established for internally displaced persons (IDP) were
nearly empty as people returned to their homes or left to be
with family. Although he agreed with reports that conditions
were quite poor, he noted that both NEMA and the government
were "doing their job" and providing food. He added,
however, that when NEMA first started distributing food,
people in the camps threw rocks at them due to NEMA's
association with the government. Villettaz said that
volunteers wearing the Red Cross emblem, by contrast, never
ran into any trouble and were allowed to move freely as
needed during the conflict. Villettaz praised the work of
the Nigerian Red Cross for its work on the ground, noting
that its volunteers in Jos responded immediately and assisted
the injured in getting to local hospitals. Villettaz added
the Nigerian Red Cross had thousands of volunteers across the
country who regularly performed their duties well. He
acknowledged the negative reputation of the Nigerian Red
Cross due to previous fraudulent activities by previous
management. The new management, however, is working very
hard to reverse that image and prove they are a worthy
partner, according to Villettaz.


3. (C) In response to DCM's inquiry about the number of
fatalities in Jos, Villettaz responded that while the
official death toll was still uncertain, it was likely around
350; he acknowledged, however, that several families were
still looking for relatives. He explained that those still
unaccounted for could have accidentally been buried in the
mass Muslim graves, escaped town if they feared arrest, or be
in prison. Those that were arrested during the initial
violence and remained in prison without formal charges were
now the ICRC's main concern. The government initially
reported the arrest of 3,000 people, but later released 2,000
after a request was made to the wife of the Governor to
intervene on behalf of those erroneously arrested, he said.
Villettaz said more than 500 prisoners were reportedly
brought to the Central Jail in Jos, which was already
overcrowded with 900 prisoners in a facility meant to
accommodate only 800.

VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES
--------------

ABUJA 00002433 002 OF 002



4. (C) Villettaz requested the meeting with the DCM to
discuss the Voluntary Principles Platform (VPP) as it related
to promoting human rights and corporate social responsibility
among the oil companies in the Niger Delta. He said that the
ICRC is trying to create a peripheral approach to the VPP
with support from the UK, Norway, Netherlands, and hopefully
the U.S. Villettaz suggested the ICRC would be a good
partner in the push for GON responsiveness on the VPP,
intimating their neutrality created less concern over motives
in the region. Noting that the ICRC currently provided
training to the JTF, Villettaz added that the ICRC intended
to become more aggressive in its approach to assistance in
the Delta region. DCM informed Villettaz about DAS Krilla's
VPP and corporate social responsibility discussions with oil
company representatives during his recent visit to Abuja (ref
B). DCM told Villettaz that we would put him in touch with
those reps as well as the contact in Vice President Goodluck
Jonathan's office who expressed interest in the VPPs.


5. (C) COMMENT: Under the circumstances, reports of the
Nigerian Red Cross performing well are encouraging. Knowing
they now have an established and capable network of
volunteers across the country could be helpful in future
situations. Despite reports that the government was slow to
react to the initial violence in Jos, we are pleased to hear
that NEMA came through in the end. As it is rare to hear
praise of Nigerian institutions, we felt it noteworthy to
mention their efforts. While it has been difficult to get
the VPPs on the GON priority list, the ICRC's influence
should encourage increased engagement on the issue. END
COMMENT.


6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Sanders