GLOBAL PATRIOT: DECEASED'S FAMILY MEMBERS VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001079

SIPDIS

MANAMA PLEASE PASS TO VADM COSGRIFF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL EG
SUBJECT: GLOBAL PATRIOT: DECEASED'S FAMILY MEMBERS VISIT
EMBASSY

REF: A. CAIRO 1034 B. CAIRO 737 C. CAIRO 623 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Stuart Jones for reason 1.4 (b).


1. (C) Summary: We received an unannounced visit May 27 from
two relatives of the widow of Mohammed Affifi. Affifi was
the Egyptian boatman killed in the March 24 Global Patriot
incident. Mohammed Fathi Mohammed, an attorney, said that
the family prefers to settle compensation issues directly
with the USG. He asked Embassy representatives to visit the
family in Suez to express condolences. Mohammed said that
the deceased's family is destitute, and has not received
appropriate financial assistance from the GOE. We expressed
our condolences to the family, and said that the USG hopes to
be able to reach an understanding with the family. We also
said that Embassy representatives would visit the family to
express our condolences directly. End summary.


2. (C) On May 27, we received an unannounced visit from two
relatives of Mohammed Affifi's widow: her brother, Mr.
Hussein Mohammed Abd El Ayl, and a relative of the wife's
mother, Mr. Mohammed Fathi Mohammed. Mohammed Fathi
Mohammed, a lawyer in Suez, assumed the role of spokesman for
the family and expressed the family's desire to conclude the
issue of compensation directly and amicably with the USG, as
opposed to using litigation. He said that he had received
calls from lawyers in the United States offering to represent
the family in litigation proceedings. He also noted that the
family has received many calls from the press, but has
refused to provide comments or agree to photos. We said that
the USG wants to resolve the matter directly. We said that
the USG is deeply engaged at the highest levels in order to
complete our investigation and resolve the issue as soon as
possible.


3. (C) Mohammed said that the victim's wife, 9 month-old son
and 5-year old daughter are destitute and need assistance, as
the deceased was the family's sole bread-winner. He said
that although the Suez Governorate Secretary-General had
promised to provide the family with a small pension, no funds
have materialized. The Ministry of Defense has not contacted
the family. The Minister of Petroleum has offered a job to
the deceased's oldest brother, but that this arrangement is
not helpful to the widow and the brother is already
financially well off.


4. (C) Mohammed requested that U.S. representatives visit the
family in Suez to express condolences. He characterized this
as separate from financial arrangements. The family wants
the U.S. to see their impoverished circumstances directly.
We said that we have not wanted to disturb the family during
this difficult period, but we are now prepared to send
Embassy representatives to the family to express condolences
and promised to visit during the week of June 1. Per
Mohammed's request, we provided him with an Embassy point of
contact to discuss the condolence visit.

SCOBEY