HARARE: EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS TARGETED VIOLENCE

UNCLAS HARARE 000413 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA AF/S S/CT CA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AMGT CASC PREL ZI SUBJECT: HARARE: EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS TARGETED VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND CONTINUED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS REF: A. HARARE 389 ¶B. HARARE 344 ¶C. HARARE 331 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Harare's EAC met on May 8 to review the political situation and the Mission's security posture. The Ambassador chaired the meeting. In attendance were representatives from RSO, POL/ECON, CONS, USAID, MGT, R/POL, CDC, GSO, IMO, CLO and MSG. ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador explained that the political situation continues to evolve and the Embassy continues to receive shocking reports of targeted violence directed against opposition members and suspected opposition supporters. Credible reports of human rights abuses, targeted incidents of torture, and rural homes being destroyed in many parts of the country are being obtained on a daily basis. ¶3. (SBU) Pol/Econ concurred that these reports of violence in the rural areas continue unabated. R/POL agreed, adding that the ruling party will do anything to win the election. Within the Mission, those most at risk are representatives of US AID and NGO organizations who might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in rural areas. ¶4. (SBU) EAC members agreed that Embassy business has remained largely unaffected by the current political situation, especially in and around Harare. RSO commented that there are no reports of Americans being specifically targeted for crime or harassment in Harare, and recent trips to Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe, and the Nyanga resort areas by mission travelers have been incident free. Overall crime in Harare has remained at routine levels, with smash-and-grab attacks and attempted burglary events continuing to happen with some regularity. ¶5. (SBU) EAC members agreed that the Mission's current security posture, which includes continued case-by-case review of in-country travel requests, remains appropriate. The Ambassador directed CONS and RSO to prepare a security message and warden message to notify communities that the situation remains somewhat volatile and that the expected return of MDC opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai this weekend may spark increased violence between the ruling party and opposition supporters. MCGEE