Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHISINAU305
2009-04-14 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR RAISES TORTURE CONCERNS WITH PRIME

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM RO MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHCH #0305/01 1041554
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141554Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7891
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000305 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM RO MD
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES TORTURE CONCERNS WITH PRIME
MINISTER; PRISON ACCESS OFFERED - April 14

Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

REF: Chisinau 296

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 000305

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM RO MD
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES TORTURE CONCERNS WITH PRIME
MINISTER; PRISON ACCESS OFFERED - April 14

Classified by: Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

REF: Chisinau 296


1. (C) Summary: In an April 14 meeting Ambassador Chaudhry
raised his concerns with Prime Minister Greceanii about the
reports of harsh treatment of those participants in the
April 7 demonstrations who had been arrested. The
Ambassador stressed USG abhorrence of violence and
underlined that any such acts had to stop. Although the
Prime Minister's initial reaction was to say that photos
could be doctored, she responded to Ambassador's concerns,
concurred on dislike of use of violence and promised to
follow up with the Interior Minister. An hour later the
Minister for Foreign Affairs informed Ambassador that PM
Greceanii had spoken with the Interior Minister and arranged
for the Ambassador to be able to visit the places of
detention and personally clarify circumstances. End
Summary.

Ambassador Raises Torture Concerns with Prime Minister
-------------- --------------


2. (C) In an April 14 meeting with Prime Minister Greceanii,
Ambassador Chaudhry raised his concerns about harsh
treatment of protestors who have been detained. The
Ambassador spoke of his abhorrence of violence and said that
we had seen evidence of very harsh treatment of those in
prison, including photos of the individual who died in
police custody.

3 (C) At first Prime Minister Greceanii noted that pictures
can be manipulated, but then went on to suggest that the
Ambassador also speak with the Interior Minister and
Procurator General to find out more about what had been
taking place. The Prime Minister said that she would speak
to the Interior Minister and arrange for the Ambassador to
meet with him. She noted that an Ombudsman had visited the
places of detention and seen the prisoners, and said that it
was necessary to clarify the situation as the opposition was
spreading allegations of torture.


4. (C) The Ambassador noted that United Nation Resident
Coordinator Kaarina Immonen had visited the detention center
and issued a report after the visit, confirming
mistreatment. She had reported that young men were being
held 20-30 or even 40 to a small room with no food or water.
She had seen bruises indicating the use of excessive
violence. Additionally the EU Ambassadors met a couple of
students after they were released and saw evidence of
bruises on their bodies. The Prime Minister responded with
the suggestion of visiting the policemen who were wounded
and were in hospitals.


5. (C) The Ambassador noted that on the night of the April 7
demonstrations he had called for an end to violence, as all
violence was wrong. Now he said he was suggesting that
harsh treatment of those in prison had to be stopped both
for humanitarian reasons and because these events were
creating an unnecessarily bad image of Moldova all over the
world.


6. (C) The Prime Minister responded that she understood, and
agreed that she too was opposed to any type of violence.
Noting that she was disturbed by the Ambassador's reports,
she said she would tell the Procurator General to pay
attention to this problem and also promised to call the
Minister of the Interior. The Ambassador left a file with
photos of bruised bodies with the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Confirms Prison Access Arranged
-------------- ---


7. (C) An hour later at a meeting arranged to discuss a
different issue, Foreign Minister Stratan followed up on the
issue of the photos and the Ambassador's meeting with the
Prime Minister. He said that PM Greceanii had already
talked to the Minister of Interior and arranged that the
Ambassador could have access to visit the places of
detention and clarify the circumstances. The Ambassador
underscored for the Foreign Minister that these photos were
being circulated around the world, and were damaging
Moldova's image.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Anyone who sees the photos of bruised bodies and the
deceased 23-year old man's head wounds cannot fail to be

CHISINAU 00000305 002 OF 002


totally revolted by the evidence of police brutality.
Thanks to the internet, the photos are spreading like
wildfire around Europe and the U.S. Opposition demands have
shifted from discussions of electoral fraud to accusations
of brutality and terror. Their hand is being strengthened
by universal revulsion to the obvious proof of torture. It
is now in everyone's interest to ensure that the detainees
are not roughed up any further. As an intermediary who
maintains good working relations with both the GOM and the
opposition, the American Ambassador can play a positive role
in assisting reconciliation during this difficult period of
post-electoral crisis.

CHAUDHRY