CHAD GOVERNMENT NOT ORDERING SUMMARY EXECUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000055 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018 TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PHUM PREL SU CD SUBJECT: CHAD GOVERNMENT NOT ORDERING SUMMARY EXECUTIONS SAYS ICRC REF: A. NDJAMENA 039 ¶B. NDJAMENA 029 ¶C. IIR 6910001008 DTG 021356ZJAN08 Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Rebecca S. Daley for reasons 1.4(b)(d). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: ICRC Chief told Ambassador January 23 that rumors of summary executions of rebels taken prisoner in recent fighting in Eastern Chad by government forces were exaggerated. ICRC Chief said that there was some evidence of abuse of POWs, including executions on the battlefield "in the heat of battle," but he doubted that such incidents were a matter of Chadian Government policy or that they occurred in the capital. ICRC Chief said his access to prisoners in Chad was "essentially 100 percent." ¶2. (C/NF) Our conversation with Merkelbach is another in a series of encounters (refs A and B) in which we have sought to shed light on intelligence reports from this embassy (ref C and other agency reporting at approximately the same time) regarding alleged large-scale summary executions here in N'djamena which senior GOC officials are alleged to have authorized or in which senior GOC officials are alleged to have participated. We will continue to seek information on this matter with official and non-official contacts. End Summary ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador visited Thomas Merkelbach, ICRC Chief of Mission in Chad, on January 23. The Ambassador was joined by poloff and Deputy Country Director of ICRC, Nikolai Panke. Merkelbach, who is a keen and well-informed observer of the Chadian scene, also provided useful information on ICRC operations and highlighted ICRC's good working relationship with the Chadian Government, particularly with Minister of Defense employees. -------------- RUMORS OF SUMMARY EXECUTIONS -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) Contrary to reported rumors, Merkelbach said that there were no credible reports of summary executions of prisoners by the government. Instead, he said that "in the heat of the moment" executions could have happened on the battlefield. If these battlefield executions did happen, he believes that these were decisions made by lower-level field commanders, not decisions that were systematically organized by high-ranking government officials as a matter of policy. In fact, Merkelbach said, that the government seems to understand the importance of following the rules of war set by the Geneva Convention. He noted that in the aftermath of the violent clashes between rebels and government forces in April 2006, the ICRC issued a statement explaining the rules of engagement for an "internal dispute." ICRC staff were gratified to learn that this outline on rules of engagement had been transmitted to many field commanders to provide guidance on the conduct of war. Merkelbach also noted that ICRC organizes courses for the Chadian National Army which includes promoting international humanitarian law as part of its curriculum. (Note: Ambassador mentioned that the U.S. also emphasizes human rights training for units in the Chadian National Army through the TSCTP. End Note). -------------- ACCESS TO PRISONS FOR ICRC -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) When the Ambassador inquired about access to prisons for ICRC, Merkelbach said that the government allows essentially unfettered access to all prisoners. "On the whole, we can see anyone," he claimed. In particular, he noted that the former Minister of Defense had been receptive to the ICRC mission and had assigned a specific liaison officer to help facilitate coordination. Merkelbach said that ICRC visits virtually all of the 44 detention facilities across Chad once a year. Merkelbach estimated that in Chad more people escape prison facilities than are released, even at the highest security prisons. -------------- HEALTH ASSISTANCE -------------- NDJAMENA 00000055 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Merkelbach told Ambassador that ICRC has a five-person surgical team based at La Liberte Hospital in N'djamena and this team is ready to respond to any needs that may arise anywhere in the country. In addition, ICRC has a second team that can fly into Abeche if needed. Merkelbach said that during previous clashes between the rebels and the government, injured civilians and military were transported to the military hospital in N'djamena and, if the hospital was unable to cope, evacuated out of country. Merkelbach said he is able to provide services despite the irritating security incidents humanitarians have experienced in the past year, including car-jackings. In fact, despite years of insecurity and chaos, Merkelbach said he has been able to provide health assistance to war-victims and IDPs without much government restriction. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) Our conversation with Merkelbach is another in a series of encounters (refs A and B) in which we have sought to shed light on intelligence reports from this embassy (ref C and other agency reporting at approximately the same time) regarding supposed large-scale summary executions here in N'djamena which senior GOC officials are alleged to have authorized or in which senior GOC officials are alleged to have participated. We will continue to seek information on this matter with official and non-official contacts. End Comment. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED NIGRO