Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ACCRA422
2008-03-31 15:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
Liberian Refugee Update: Ambassador's Meeting with UNHCR
how-toVZCZCXRO9200 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHAR #0422/01 0911530 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311530Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6347 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0395
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000422
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: Liberian Refugee Update: Ambassador's Meeting with UNHCR
Accra Representative; Re-issuance of USG Policy on Liberians
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000422
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: Liberian Refugee Update: Ambassador's Meeting with UNHCR
Accra Representative; Re-issuance of USG Policy on Liberians
1. (SBU) Summary: On March 20, the Ambassador met with UNHCR Accra
Representative Aida Haile Mariam, who provided UNHCR's perspective
on the current crisis, including Ghana's efforts to return some
Buduburam residents to Liberia. Mariam confirmed that UNHCR is now
involved in screening the Liberians, and has tentatively determined
that 31 of the detainees are not registered as refugees. At the
request of UNHCR and the Interior Minister, and in consultation with
PRM, the Embassy has re-issued the USG policy that we are no longer
resettling Liberian refugees to the U.S. End Summary.
Background on the Current Crisis
--------------
2. (SBU) Mariam began by providing background on the current
situation. She noted that resettlement of Liberian refugees ended
in June 2007; at that time returnees were given USD5. In
mid-February UNHCR had offered to provide a financial incentive of
$100 per adult and $50 per child for Liberian refugees to return to
Liberia.
3. (SBU) UNHCR personnel has held meetings with camp residents,
including several elderly residents who expressed a desire for
repatriation. However, a group of vocal and threatening opponents to
repatriation emerged. UNHCR held a meeting in Accra with refugee
leaders, who initially asked for $3,000 per person to repatriate to
Liberia, and later said they would settle for $1,000. She said this
was not negotiable. She commented that the opposition leaders were
initially a small number of women, but that the group evolved to
include about 22 people, who are mostly male.
4. (SBU) Mariam stressed that while the policy of UNHCR,
resettlement has ceased (except for "protection-related issues" such
as medical requirements),has been communicated to the refugees,
"they do not accept this." She noted that opponents started
disrupting programs in the camp such as schools and food
distribution. As recently as March 11, in a meeting with UNHCR the
refugees were "adamant in their demands," while UNHCR explained the
limitations to what they could do.
5. (SBU) On March 17 at 6:30 PM, Mariam said that refugees who were
protesting on the soccer field were arrested. She noted that most
of the people on the field were women, and that force was not used
as many of the refugees apparently believed that they would be
resettled and were therefore cooperative with the authorities.
Interaction with the Ghanaian Authorities
--------------
6. (SBU) Mariam said that UNHCR had communicated with the Ghanaian
Government the need to follow Ghanaian law and international
conventions concerning refugees. She also said she had requested
that UNHCR headquarters send a letter to President Kufuor requesting
that Ghana follow international law in its treatment of the detained
refugees. Mariam said that while the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB) had
counseled the Minister of Interior on the legal requirements, the
decision to deport had been made at the Presidential level, which
put the GRB in a "very difficult" position. Mariam said she has
been encouraging the GRB to "do its job."
7. (SBU) Mariam acknowledged that UNHCR had been asked for
assistance in transporting the Liberians to Liberia, but had told
the GOG it could only do so if repatriations were voluntary.
8. (SBU) Regarding the detainees, Mariam said that a number of them
were not registered as refugees. UNHCR had verified that about 600
were registered refugees, and was re-verifying to be sure that the
remaining 31 were not. If they are not refugees, Mariam said, they
would be considered illegal residents of Ghana and could be
deported. However, UNHCR would not assist - the deportation would
be the GOG's responsibility.
9. (SBU) Mariam also commented that it would be helpful if the U.S.
re-issued its policy statement for 2008 that it was no longer
re-settling Liberian refugees.
Liberia-Ghana Consultations
--------------
10. (SBU) Mariam also confirmed that a Liberian Government team was
scheduled to arrive March 22 to consult with the GOG on a way
forward. The team would include the Executive Director of Liberia's
Return and Reintegration Commission, and representatives from
Liberia's Ministry of Justice and National Security Council.
Re-statement of USG Policy on Liberian Refugees
-------------- --
ACCRA 00000422 002 OF 002
11. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater spoke later on March 20 with
Minister of Interior Bartels, who asked the Ambassador to re-issue
the U.S. statement that it was no longer resettling Liberian
refugees. Following Post consultations with PRM, the Ambassador
later made a statement to that effect on BBC radio, and Post issued
a press release to the Ghanaian media. We are also providing UNHCR
Ghana with the text of the statement to post at Buduburam.
BROWN
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: Liberian Refugee Update: Ambassador's Meeting with UNHCR
Accra Representative; Re-issuance of USG Policy on Liberians
1. (SBU) Summary: On March 20, the Ambassador met with UNHCR Accra
Representative Aida Haile Mariam, who provided UNHCR's perspective
on the current crisis, including Ghana's efforts to return some
Buduburam residents to Liberia. Mariam confirmed that UNHCR is now
involved in screening the Liberians, and has tentatively determined
that 31 of the detainees are not registered as refugees. At the
request of UNHCR and the Interior Minister, and in consultation with
PRM, the Embassy has re-issued the USG policy that we are no longer
resettling Liberian refugees to the U.S. End Summary.
Background on the Current Crisis
--------------
2. (SBU) Mariam began by providing background on the current
situation. She noted that resettlement of Liberian refugees ended
in June 2007; at that time returnees were given USD5. In
mid-February UNHCR had offered to provide a financial incentive of
$100 per adult and $50 per child for Liberian refugees to return to
Liberia.
3. (SBU) UNHCR personnel has held meetings with camp residents,
including several elderly residents who expressed a desire for
repatriation. However, a group of vocal and threatening opponents to
repatriation emerged. UNHCR held a meeting in Accra with refugee
leaders, who initially asked for $3,000 per person to repatriate to
Liberia, and later said they would settle for $1,000. She said this
was not negotiable. She commented that the opposition leaders were
initially a small number of women, but that the group evolved to
include about 22 people, who are mostly male.
4. (SBU) Mariam stressed that while the policy of UNHCR,
resettlement has ceased (except for "protection-related issues" such
as medical requirements),has been communicated to the refugees,
"they do not accept this." She noted that opponents started
disrupting programs in the camp such as schools and food
distribution. As recently as March 11, in a meeting with UNHCR the
refugees were "adamant in their demands," while UNHCR explained the
limitations to what they could do.
5. (SBU) On March 17 at 6:30 PM, Mariam said that refugees who were
protesting on the soccer field were arrested. She noted that most
of the people on the field were women, and that force was not used
as many of the refugees apparently believed that they would be
resettled and were therefore cooperative with the authorities.
Interaction with the Ghanaian Authorities
--------------
6. (SBU) Mariam said that UNHCR had communicated with the Ghanaian
Government the need to follow Ghanaian law and international
conventions concerning refugees. She also said she had requested
that UNHCR headquarters send a letter to President Kufuor requesting
that Ghana follow international law in its treatment of the detained
refugees. Mariam said that while the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB) had
counseled the Minister of Interior on the legal requirements, the
decision to deport had been made at the Presidential level, which
put the GRB in a "very difficult" position. Mariam said she has
been encouraging the GRB to "do its job."
7. (SBU) Mariam acknowledged that UNHCR had been asked for
assistance in transporting the Liberians to Liberia, but had told
the GOG it could only do so if repatriations were voluntary.
8. (SBU) Regarding the detainees, Mariam said that a number of them
were not registered as refugees. UNHCR had verified that about 600
were registered refugees, and was re-verifying to be sure that the
remaining 31 were not. If they are not refugees, Mariam said, they
would be considered illegal residents of Ghana and could be
deported. However, UNHCR would not assist - the deportation would
be the GOG's responsibility.
9. (SBU) Mariam also commented that it would be helpful if the U.S.
re-issued its policy statement for 2008 that it was no longer
re-settling Liberian refugees.
Liberia-Ghana Consultations
--------------
10. (SBU) Mariam also confirmed that a Liberian Government team was
scheduled to arrive March 22 to consult with the GOG on a way
forward. The team would include the Executive Director of Liberia's
Return and Reintegration Commission, and representatives from
Liberia's Ministry of Justice and National Security Council.
Re-statement of USG Policy on Liberian Refugees
-------------- --
ACCRA 00000422 002 OF 002
11. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater spoke later on March 20 with
Minister of Interior Bartels, who asked the Ambassador to re-issue
the U.S. statement that it was no longer resettling Liberian
refugees. Following Post consultations with PRM, the Ambassador
later made a statement to that effect on BBC radio, and Post issued
a press release to the Ghanaian media. We are also providing UNHCR
Ghana with the text of the statement to post at Buduburam.
BROWN