Interior Minister Discusses Planned Deportation of Liberian

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000380

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AND PRM
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL LI GH
SUBJECT: Interior Minister Discusses Planned Deportation of Liberian

Refugees


1. (SBU) Summary: In a March 18 meeting with Ambassador Bridgewater,
Interior Minister Kwamena Bartels said that the GOG is collaborating
closely with UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee Board, and the Government of
Liberia in implementing plans to revoke the refugee status and
deport 659 Liberian refugees who were arrested after demonstrating
at Buduburam refugee camp since February 19. Bartels stressed that
the GOG is complying fully with the law, and that UNHCR is
facilitating the repatriation by organizing a UN aircraft for the
effort. In contrast, UNHCR's Ghana Representative indicated
subsequently that it would only consider the aircraft request if the
repatriation were voluntary. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater, accompanied by POL Chief, met March
18 with Ghanaian Interior Minister Kwamena Bartels, to discuss the
recent arrest of Liberian refugees at the Buduburam Refugee Camp,
and the GOG's announcement that it would terminate the refugee
status of those who had been arrested, and deport them imminently.
In attendance were Minister of State (MOI) Nana Obiri Boahen and
Ghana Refugee Board Chairman Bawumia. Boahen and Bawumia had
returned that afternoon from Buduburam, where they were accompanied
by a UNHCR representative and the Liberian Ambassador to Ghana.


3. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater expressed U.S. concern that the GOG
adhere to its international obligations concerning refugees,
including the 1951 Convention requirements regarding
non-refoulement, and urged the GOG to collaborate closely with UNHCR
and the Ghana Refugee Board.


4. (SBU) In response, Bartels made the following points:

-- The refugees have been demonstrating since February 19 and were
in breach of the Public Order Law.

-- The refugees have stated that 1) they do not want to integrate
into Ghana; (2) they want resettlement in a Western country
(preferably the U.S.); and (3) they want USD 1000 per person if they
return to Liberia.

-- The organizers have prevented children from attending school,
forced all schools to close, and prevented the distribution of food
aid to the elderly and children. Refugee leaders who disagreed with
this strategy were threatened and had to flee.

-- Ghana has hosted these refugees for 18 years and these
demonstrations and demands are a sign of ingratitude.

-- If the refugees will not accept local integration, will not be
resettled in a Western country, and will not receive USD 1000 for
repatriation, then they must respect the law. Otherwise, the GOG
has no choice but to prosecute and revoke their refugee status.

-- The GOG has arrested 659 refugees, and has initiated a
consultative process to invoke the Cessation Clause for Liberian
Refugees.

-- The GOG will not allow this group to destabilize Buduburam and is
carefully applying the law to deal with the issue.

-- The GOG has collaborated closely with UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee
Board, and the Liberian government. Neither UNHCR, the GRB, or the
Liberian Government had objected to the plan to revoke refugee
status and deport the 659 Liberians.

-- Furthermore, UNHCR had arranged for a UN aircraft to pick up the
Liberian deportees, and Liberia's Foreign Minister will travel to
Accra tomorrow to consult with the GOG.

-- In an aside following the meeting, GRB Chairman Bawumia said it
was unfortunate that a "few instigators" were causing trouble for
the other Liberian refugees. He opined that the instigators were
probably ex-combatants, and that a large amount of the frustrations
among refugees was due to the fact that they have nothing to show
for the 18 years they have been at Buduburam.


5. (SBU) Following the meeting with Minister Bartels, Ambassador
Bridgewater spoke with the Liberian Ambassador, who confirmed the
plan for a UN plane to arrive in Ghana to pick up the refugees,
probably on Thursday. He noted that the Liberian Government had
issued a formal apology to the GOG for the behavior of the refugees,
but expressed concern that if refugees are sent back to Liberia en
masse, it could cause a security problem for the GOL. He also added
that Liberians at Buduburam were phoning contacts in Liberia and
encouraging them to engage in similar demonstrative activities in
solidarity with Buduburam residents.


6. (SBU) The Ambassador was unable to speak with the UNHCR
Representative in Accra but learned March 19 that she had given the

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BBC an interview on the subject (we are trying to get that
transcript). Ambassador was able to speak March 19 with UNDP Res
Rep Daouda Toure who said UNHCR had received similar information
that there were a few at the camp who had instigated and fueled the
demonstrations. Both Toure and Ambassador said that it is important
for the GOG to insure that international protocols are guaranteed
for the refugees, as well as making sure that the laws of Ghana are
not broken.


7. (SBU) Subsequently, Accra Refugee Coordinator (RCO) spoke with
Ghana UNHCR Representative Aida Haile Mariam. Mariam said that the
Government of Liberia had asked UNHCR for help in repatriating the
arrested Liberians. UNHCR responded that if this was a voluntary
repatriation, they would consider the request. However, if this is
a deportation, they could not. In implementing voluntary
repatriation, noted Mariam, UNHCR generally requires the refugee to
sign that they are making the decision voluntarily. Mariam also
said that UNHCR had gained access to the detention facility that
afternoon, but had not yet received the names of those in the
facility from the GOG.


8. (SBU) Comment: Bartels appeared calm, but determined to press
forward with the deportations, and his tone conveyed considerable
GOG anger over the Liberians' demonstrations and demands after 18
years in Ghana. While he and the GRB claim to be collaborating with
UNHCR, it is unclear whether UNHCR is effectively communicating,
both with regard to the aircraft and to the legal steps the GOG must
follow with the refugees. As we are unable to assess whether
appropriate legal standards are being applied by the GOG, we
recommend that RMA Geneva consult further with UNHCR headquarters.
END COMMENT.

9.(U) Post will continue to monitor this situation and provide
updates as we receive new details.

BRIDGEWATER