Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUANDA319
2008-04-22 17:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

REQUEST FOR STOCKPILE SECURITY TRAINING

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL MASS PTER MARR PARM KHDP AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4906
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0319 1131706
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221706Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4751
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000319 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MASS PTER MARR PARM KHDP AO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STOCKPILE SECURITY TRAINING

REF: A. LUANDA 258

B. 07 LUANDA 0519

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000319

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MASS PTER MARR PARM KHDP AO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STOCKPILE SECURITY TRAINING

REF: A. LUANDA 258

B. 07 LUANDA 0519

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an April 18 meeting, the Angolan
National Police requested that the Defense Threat Reduction
Agency (DTRA) conduct stockpile security and management
training in Luanda in late May 2008. Despite the probable
time pressures caused by short notice, post stands ready to
assist DTRA in meeting the Angolan request. This is an
important opportunity to demonstrate the value of this
training to a previously skeptical Angolan audience. The
Angolan military will closely monitor the results of DTRA,s
training program for the National Police. If they like what
they see, the DTRA program might then be expanded to include
the more sensitive uncontrolled munitions held by the
military, including MANPADS. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) On April 18, 2008, Poloff and representatives from
the USG-funded NGO, HALO Trust, met with a representative
from the Angolan National Police to discuss the GRA,s
National Disarmament Campaign and areas of possible
cooperation. Lisboa Mario, a member of the Disarmament
Commission and head of the Department of Police Study,
welcomed information on DTRA's Physical Security and
Stockpile Management Seminars and asked if DTRA could conduct
seminars in Angola during the May 20-30, 2008 timeframe.


3. (C) Poloff explained the DAO must receive a formal request
for training from the GRA before the USG can move forward.
According to Mario, this letter will be relatively easy to
get, as the Disarmament Commission has "more autonomy" from
bureaucracy than is the norm. As the Angolan Armed Forces
are also represented on the Disarmament Commission, Mario
said military representatives and weapons handlers from each
province would also participate in the training. Mario
thanked the USG for the opportunity to cooperate on this
training with "so few strings attached," in reference to
DTRA's statement that it could not and would not need to sign
MOUs or contracts.


4. (SBU) Angolan authorities have shown a growing sense of
urgency on stockpile management and security issues (reftel),
especially since the 2007 explosion in Maupto. Mario stated
that all 18 provincial governors, police and military
commanders are extremely concerned about the security of
their existing stockpiles and question how they will safely
secure the thousands of additional weapons they anticipate
being collected or turned in during the National Disarmament
Campaign. The Campaign is set to launch on June 1st, but
hundreds of weapons have been voluntarily turned in since the
police held a training workshop on disarmament in early
March. NOTE: HALO Trust is partnering with the National
Police to destroy weapons collected during the campaign, but
lacks the capacity to keep pace with the estimated rate of
collection and turn-in. HALO has submitted proposals PM/WRA
that would provide for additional weapons cutting teams.
Post firmly supports their proposal and thanks PM/WRA for its
consideration. END NOTE


5. (C) COMMENT: This request for training represents a
significant breakthrough, as we have sought permission to
help Angola improve the physical security of its munitions
stockpiles for well over a year. The relationship between
the National Police and Halo was key to our getting a nose
under the tent, but the Police were also impressed by the
DTRA package. While we understand the difficulties involved
in putting together training seminars on such short notice,
the timing fits very well with the GRA,s civilian
disarmament program. We hope the successful DTRA training
will be noticed by military observers, and that cooperation
with DTRA would then soon extend to the armed forces and
their more hazardous expired munitions, including MANPADS.
Post stands ready to assist DTRA in providing this training
and will work to expedite the official GRA request. END
COMMENT
MOZENA