CHINESE EMBASSY OFFICIAL DISCUSSES HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001653 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, AF/E NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: CHINESE EMBASSY OFFICIAL DISCUSSES HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS REF A) KHARTOUM 1550 B) KHARTOUM 1625 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Chinese Embassy official who oversaw negotiations for the release of the kidnapped oil workers in South Kordofan told poloff that he had daily contact with the kidnappers and was prepared to pay a ransom, until negotiations were abruptly curtailed by the deaths of five of the nine hostages at the hands of a single deranged member of the group. He also stated that the Government of China has urged the GOS to provide greater security for oil installations and workers, but also asked that any military presence in the disputed areas be comprised of Joint Integrated Units (JIUs). End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On November 12 poloff met with Yu Chunhua, Political Director at the Chinese Embassy in Khartoum. Following the kidnapping of nine Chinese oil workers in South Kordofan state (Ref A),Yu was dispatched to the site of the abduction to oversee negotiations for their release. He was accompanied by Khartoum-based Misseriya tribal leaders, who at the suggestion of the GOS offered their assistance in liaising with the kidnappers to secure release of the hostages. "The kidnappers were members of their tribe," said Yu, adding that at some of them were well known to the tribal leaders. ¶3. (SBU) Working out of a container in the oil workers' camp, Yu stated that he and the tribal leaders had "daily" contact with the kidnappers on Thuraya satellite phones, and that the tribal leaders even succeeded in meeting some of them face-to-face on October 27, prior to the killing spree later that day. Yu said the kidnappers had also allowed him to speak directly with the hostages via Thuraya. The hostages were in extremely poor health, he said, after being forced to walk miles on end without food or water for several days. They survived only by drinking from stagnant pools of water, and several became violently ill and unable to walk as a result. The kidnappers subsequently brought in a camel to transport the incapacitated hostages, he said. ¶4. (SBU) According to Yu, the kidnappers' demands were money, jobs and development for the neglected region. "We knew we would have to pay something, and we were prepared to do so," said Yu, adding that the talks "never reached the stage" of negotiating a ransom amount. While he admitted to poloff that paying a ransom would only encourage more such kidnappings, he stated that "we thought it through, and we put our people's lives first." He expressed frustration at the kidnappers' demands for jobs and development because "most of our workforce there is comprised of local labor," with only the skilled and managerial posts occupied by Chinese, he said. He also claimed that China has built over 100 schools in the region, many of which remain empty. "But some people are never satisfied," he said, adding that "Rome wasn't built in a day." ¶5. (SBU) Any progress made in negotiations was promptly curtailed on November 27, when a government helicopter spotted the camel carrying the hostages, cluing them in to the kidnappers' location. Upon seeing the helicopter, the kidnappers panicked and lined up the hostages to vacate the area, but one kidnapper began shooting the hostages from behind as they lined up. Five of the nine hostages fell victims to the gunfire, with three dying immediately and two shortly thereafter. According to Yu, the gunman is a "deranged" individual well known to the GOS, and has a long criminal history that is said to include the murder of three women. The hijackers fled after the shooting but returned minutes after to retrieve the four surviving hostages, though one had already escaped. The other three were freed following a firefight between the kidnappers and government forces, he said. The four surviving hostages have now returned to China. ¶6. (SBU) As a result of the incident, Yu stated that the Chinese have asked the GOS to strengthen security for oil installations and workers, and welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Interior that additional security forces would be deployed in the area (Ref B). But he added that the Chinese asked the GOS to ensure that only Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) made up of both SAF and SPLA troops be used in the disputed areas between the North and South. (Note: The kidnapping occurred near Difra, which is actually within the boundaries of the Abyei Interim Borders where only Abyei JIU should be present. End Note). ¶7. (SBU) Comment: China's willingness to pay a ransom in this instance could serve as an incentive for future kidnappings in oil producing regions where dissatisfaction at the lack of wealth sharing is high. It will be very difficult for the GoS to protect all of the Chinese personnel at oil installations. But more worrying KHARTOUM 00001653 002 OF 002 is the potential deployment of Central Reserve Police (CRP) near or within the boundary of the Abyei Interim Border. This could set the stage for another violent confrontation as these well-armed, undisciplined Arab militiamen, re-hatted as CRP, come into contact with Abyei's Dinka population, which is backed up by the SPLA. FERNANDEZ