Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU120
2009-04-01 09:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

BENIN: HOMAGE TO LATE PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER CATHERINE

Tags:  KMDR KPAO SOCI BN 
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VZCZCXRO6324
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0120/01 0910902
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010902Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0842
RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000120 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK)
DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS
DOJ FOR ICITAP and OPDAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO SOCI BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: HOMAGE TO LATE PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER CATHERINE
PUZEY

REFERENCES: Cotonou
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000120

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK)
DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS
DOJ FOR ICITAP and OPDAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO SOCI BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: HOMAGE TO LATE PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER CATHERINE
PUZEY

REFERENCES: Cotonou

1. Summary: The local media reported on the memorial ceremony held
at the Chief of Mission's Residence on March 25. The ceremony was
held in memory of the late Catherine Puzey, a Peace Corps Volunteer
who was killed at her residence in the village of Badjoude, located
in the Atacora department of northern Benin. In attendance were
Mission personnel, including American officials and LES from the
State Department, USAID, Peace Corps and MCA, along with a large
Beninese government delegation made up of three Ministers and
President Boni Yayi's Director of Cabinet, as well as a delegation
led by the king of Badjoude. End summary.


2. On March 27, the right-of-center Cotonou-based independent daily
"Le Fleuron," which is closely associated with the President's
Office, carried a whole edition of stories and photos reporting on
the March 25 memorial service held at the residence of Ambassador
Gayleatha B. Brown in memory of the late Catherine Puzey, a Peace
Corps Volunteer killed on March 12 in her residence. After
mentioning the vile manner in which Ms. Catherine Puzey was
murdered, the article states that President Boni Yayi's Chief of
Cabinet, visibly moved during the ceremony, assured the victim's
family and all Mission personnel of the government's full support in
prosecuting the perpetrators of this crime and promised, on behalf
of President Boni Yayi, that this case will be fully investigated
and that all those who contributed to the killing of Catherine Puzey
will be brought to justice.


3. "Le Fleuron" also published Ambassador Gayleatha B. Brown's
opening remarks. Following are translated excerpts from Ambassador
Brown's remarks, which were given in French: "On behalf of the
government of the United States, the American people and the
personnel of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benin, and on my own
behalf, I would like to thank you for honoring Catherine Puzey's
memory by your presence at this memorial service..." ... "During the
18 months prior to her assassination, Catherine Puzey worked
ardently and with devotion to serve the students of Dompago
Secondary School from her village of Badjoude where she died. Ms.
Catherine Puzey was an exemplary Peace Corps Volunteer who cared so
much for her work, the people of her adopted village and her

friends. Her senseless and vicious killing is upsetting to anyone
who cares for life, liberty and women's rights. In this regard, I
would like to thank the government and the people of Benin, and the
officials from the French Embassy who shared our sorrow, and
assisted us in the investigation of her killing. The members of her
family in the United States of America, the U.S. government, the
representatives of the U.S. government in Benin, her friends and
colleagues request that investigations be conducted and that justice
be done."


4. "Le Fleuron" also carried a separate editorial titled "The
Martyr is Dead and Her Projects Shattered" in which the author
postulates that the victim was only 24 and was pursuing many
ongoing projects. The author of the editorial pursued his analysis
with the following comments: "In May 2009, she was to terminate her
service and return to the United States to pursue her higher
studies, work for a non-government organization and travel across
Africa." ... "When people are defenseless or oppressed, Catherine
does not hesitate to assist, recounted her mother."... "She likes to
see justice done."... "And in order to make justice prevail,
investigations must reveal the circumstances of her death." ...
"The preliminary investigations revealed that Catherine was neither
raped nor robbed."... "The government promised to cooperate fully in
investigating the conditions in which she was killed." ..."The
government expressed its condolences to the parents of the victim."
... "On March 20, a memorial church service was held in Alpharette,
Georgia, at the Methodist Church of Birmingham."... The 99 other
Peace Corps Volunteers still serving in Benin do not fear for their
life because the Worldwide Peace Corps Director assured them of his
support.


5. Also on March 27, the left-of-center independent daily, Le
Matinal, carried an article titled "Two weeks after her
assassination, Catherine Puzey receives homage worthy of her rank."
The article mentions that a memorial ceremony was held at the
residence of the Ambassador of the United Stated, to honor the
memory of Catherine Puzey, a Peace Corps Volunteer assassinated in
her residence at Badjoude. The author of the article pursued his
story with the following comments:
"The ceremony that took place on March 25 was attended by Mission
Officials and local staff, a strong government delegation and a
royal delegation led by the king of Badjoude." "Ambassador Brown
thanked the government and the people of Benin, as well as the
French Embassy to Benin, for their support."... "On behalf of the
government of the United States, the family and friends of the
victim, Ambassador Brown requested that investigations be conducted
in a professional manner in order to bring the criminals to
justice." The author of the article quoted the Director of the

COTONOU 00000120 002 OF 002


Secondary School where Ms Catherine teaches as saying:"Good men
don't last."... "Catherine's short life among us was full of
kindness."... "Let's pray for her."

Brown