REQUEST FOR USG ASSISTANCE TO CHADIAN NATIONAL

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000197 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER, STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN, AF/C, AF/RSA AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CD UN PREF PHUM EU SU SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR USG ASSISTANCE TO CHADIAN NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION REF: A) N'DJAMENA 149, B) N'DJAMENA-AF/C EMAILS ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE: SEE PARA 6. ¶2. (SBU) THE USG COULD SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORT THE "OPENING" OF THE CHADIAN INTERNAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT PROCESS BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION SET UP TO SHED LIGHT ON EVENTS FOLLOWING THE FAILED REBEL ATTACK ON N'DJAMENA IN FEBRUARY, INCLUDING THE DETENTION BY CHADIAN SECURITY FORCES OF OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS, AND ESPECIALLY THE CONTINUED DISAPPEARANCE OF OPPOSITION COALITION SPOKESMAN, MAHAMAT IBNI OUMAR SALEH. ¶3. (SBU) THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD SEEK TO SEND A U.S. LEGAL/FORENSIC EXPERT TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION IN ITS WORK. A U.S. EXPERT WITH A MILITARY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING MILITARY OPERATIONS WOULD BE A USEFUL COMPLEMENT TO THE CIVILIAN EXPERTS THAT THE EU AND FRANCE PLAN TO SEND TO CHAD TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION. ¶4. (U) THE COMMISSION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ITS WORK MAY 1 AND FINISH UP ON JUNE 30. WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH THE FRENCH AND EU MISSIONS, BOTH OF WHICH ENCOURAGED U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE EFFORT TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION. A USG EXPERT NEED NOT BE IN CHAD FOR THE ENTIRE TWO-MONTH PERIOD; EVEN A THREE- TO FOUR-WEEK STAY WOULD BE EXTREMELY USEFUL. ¶5. (SBU) THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ALSO DEMARCHE THE UN IN NY AND GENEVA TO ENCOURAGE PROVISION OF EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO THE CHADIAN NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION BY THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN GENEVA. BOTH THE EU AND FRANCE HAVE MADE SIMILAR DEMARCHES, ACCORDING TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HERE. ¶6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: THAT THE DEPARTMENT (A) SEND A U.S. LEGAL/HUMAN RIGHTS/FORENSIC EXPERT (POSSIBLY WITH A MILITARY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE) TO ASSIST THE CHADIAN NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION IN ITS WORK; AND (B) DEMARCHE THE UN IN NY AND GENEVA TO ENCOURAGE PROVISION OF EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMISSION BY THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN GENEVA. NIGRO