Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DARESSALAAM413
2009-06-30 05:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:
TANZANIA PROMISES HUMANE APPROACH ON REFUGEE CAMP
how-toVZCZCXRO2040 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHDR #0413 1810508 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 300508Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8638 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 2917 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3448 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1373 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0323 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1311 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0499 RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000413
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JLIDDLE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BY CG CVIS PGOV PHUM PINR PREF RW TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA PROMISES HUMANE APPROACH ON REFUGEE CAMP
CLOSURE
REF: SECSTATE 62420
UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000413
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JLIDDLE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BY CG CVIS PGOV PHUM PINR PREF RW TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA PROMISES HUMANE APPROACH ON REFUGEE CAMP
CLOSURE
REF: SECSTATE 62420
1. (SBU) RefCord and PolOff delivered reftel demarche on
June 18 to Director of Refugees Judy Mtawali at the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA),in the absence from Dar es Salaam of
both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. In
response to encouragement of a humane approach to the
upcoming official closure of Mtabila, Mtawali stressed that
the GOT is taking a flexible approach to the closing of the
camp and understands that Mtabila will not be closed by the
previously agreed deadline of June 30,2009. However, Mtawali
also restated the GOT's firm intention to move forward with
refugee repatriation as quickly as possible. RefCord also
raised the issue of naturalization of the 1972 Burundian
population. Mtawali stated that guidance on this issue has
come from President Kikwete. Tanzania particularly wants to
avoid having Burundian enclaves that might have an undue
influence on local politics. Mtawali also said that the GOT's
position is affected by the memory of having Rwandan refugees
return to Rwanda after having been granted citizenship in
Tanzania.
2. (U) RefCord and PolOff also met with UNHCR Representative
Yacoub El Hillo and Deputy Representative Indrika Ratwatte,
relaying the information from reftel. El Hillo said that
UNHCR continues to work behind the scenes with GOT officials
to ensure that the repatriation and local integration of
Burundian refugees adheres to international law and
standards. El Hillo indicated that the number of refugees
registering for repatriation convoys out of Mtabila continues
to be low but that they will wait to see how the situation
develops during the summer months, which are traditionally
the peak period for return. In regards to local integration
of the 1972 "Old Caseload" Burundian refugee population, El
Hillo said that UNHCR anticipates 30 percent of the
approximately 170,000 refugees will have their citizenship
applications denied in the first review. He estimated that
one-half to two-thirds of those cases will be approved on
appeal and that UNHCR will need to seek alternative solutions
(repatriation, resettlement) for the remaining population.
3. (U) UNHCR Deputy Director Ratwatte asked for USG
assistance in processing refugees for resettlement out of
Kanembwa Processing Center at an expedited pace. He expressed
concern that Kanembwa is full, which will prohibit UNHCR from
moving more individuals under resettlement consideration out
of the camps and into the processing center. This is a key
element of UNHCR's attempt to encourage repatriation - by
reducing the temptation for refugees to stay in the camps in
the hope of being accepted for resettlement consideration as
their neighbors have been accepted.
MUSHINGI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JLIDDLE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BY CG CVIS PGOV PHUM PINR PREF RW TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA PROMISES HUMANE APPROACH ON REFUGEE CAMP
CLOSURE
REF: SECSTATE 62420
1. (SBU) RefCord and PolOff delivered reftel demarche on
June 18 to Director of Refugees Judy Mtawali at the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA),in the absence from Dar es Salaam of
both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. In
response to encouragement of a humane approach to the
upcoming official closure of Mtabila, Mtawali stressed that
the GOT is taking a flexible approach to the closing of the
camp and understands that Mtabila will not be closed by the
previously agreed deadline of June 30,2009. However, Mtawali
also restated the GOT's firm intention to move forward with
refugee repatriation as quickly as possible. RefCord also
raised the issue of naturalization of the 1972 Burundian
population. Mtawali stated that guidance on this issue has
come from President Kikwete. Tanzania particularly wants to
avoid having Burundian enclaves that might have an undue
influence on local politics. Mtawali also said that the GOT's
position is affected by the memory of having Rwandan refugees
return to Rwanda after having been granted citizenship in
Tanzania.
2. (U) RefCord and PolOff also met with UNHCR Representative
Yacoub El Hillo and Deputy Representative Indrika Ratwatte,
relaying the information from reftel. El Hillo said that
UNHCR continues to work behind the scenes with GOT officials
to ensure that the repatriation and local integration of
Burundian refugees adheres to international law and
standards. El Hillo indicated that the number of refugees
registering for repatriation convoys out of Mtabila continues
to be low but that they will wait to see how the situation
develops during the summer months, which are traditionally
the peak period for return. In regards to local integration
of the 1972 "Old Caseload" Burundian refugee population, El
Hillo said that UNHCR anticipates 30 percent of the
approximately 170,000 refugees will have their citizenship
applications denied in the first review. He estimated that
one-half to two-thirds of those cases will be approved on
appeal and that UNHCR will need to seek alternative solutions
(repatriation, resettlement) for the remaining population.
3. (U) UNHCR Deputy Director Ratwatte asked for USG
assistance in processing refugees for resettlement out of
Kanembwa Processing Center at an expedited pace. He expressed
concern that Kanembwa is full, which will prohibit UNHCR from
moving more individuals under resettlement consideration out
of the camps and into the processing center. This is a key
element of UNHCR's attempt to encourage repatriation - by
reducing the temptation for refugees to stay in the camps in
the hope of being accepted for resettlement consideration as
their neighbors have been accepted.
MUSHINGI