Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GABORONE475
2009-06-11 08:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Gaborone
Cable title:  

MEDIA FRENZY OVER SUSPECT SHOT BY SECURITY OFFICERS

Tags:  PHUM PGOV KDEM MOPS ASEC KCRM BC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHOR #0475/01 1620814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110814Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5825
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000475 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR AF/S, AF/RSA, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM MOPS ASEC KCRM BC
SUBJECT: MEDIA FRENZY OVER SUSPECT SHOT BY SECURITY OFFICERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000475

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR AF/S, AF/RSA, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM MOPS ASEC KCRM BC
SUBJECT: MEDIA FRENZY OVER SUSPECT SHOT BY SECURITY OFFICERS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 13 at approximately 2300 hours, John
Kalafatis, a suspected criminal, was shot and killed in Gaborone,
allegedly by military intelligence officers. Though government
spokespersons say that Kalafatis was killed during an exchange of
gunfire while resisting a legitimate arrest, lawyers for the
victim's family raise serious questions about the incident,
including why military officers rather than ordinary police were
involved and how/why Kalafatis was allegedly shot at close range.
Botswana's sensational and fairly irresponsible media are in full
frenzy over the case, and their work has been made easier by the
Khama administration's poor handling of the press. END SUMMARY.

Suspect Killed in Shoot-Out May 13
--------------

2. (SBU) Though questions remain about the death of John Kalafatis,
it is clear that he died of gunshot wounds on May 13 in Gaborone
around 2300 hours. According to the initial police report on the
incident (copy obtained by RSO) Botswana Defense Force (BDF)
military intelligence officers approached a vehicle parked outside
of a Gaborone bar and ordered the three men inside to step out. Two
of the men complied, while the third (Kalafatis) refused to come
out. The police report then says that "suddenly an exchange of
gunfire erupted" and Kalafatis was "caught by bullets and sustained
multiple gunshot wounds." Kalafatis was reportedly transported to
Princess Marina hospital in Gaborone and pronounced dead in the
early hours of May 14.


3. (SBU) The Kalafatis family engaged local human rights lawyers
Dick Bayford and Duma Boko to investigate the shooting. The
attorneys have made numerous statements to local press, calling
Kalafatis's death a "murder" and alleging that he was unarmed man
"executed" by Botswana's security forces. (Note: In addition to his
work as a human rights lawyer, Dick Bayford is actively involved in
politics and is a supporter of the opposition Botswana Congress
Party. Government sources allege that Bayford's politics color his
portrayal of government in this case. End Note.) In addition, the
victim's family engaged a private pathologist from South Africa to

perform an independent autopsy on the body. Bayford and Boko told
the media June 1 that the pathologist's report concludes that
Kalafatis had been struck by at least 10 bullets, and that any one
of the wounds could have killed him. The attorneys also announced
that the pathologist believes that at least one of the bullets was
shot at close range (approximately 15 cm). The Government of
Botswana has held at least two press conferences on the shooting,
but has declined to give many details about the incident pending the
completion of investigations. The consistent government explanation
of the Kalafatis incident is that government security officers shot
a dangerous criminal suspect while attempting to apprehend him.
Once ongoing investigations are complete, the government will be
able to discuss more fully the circumstances of the shooting. A
police spokesman said on June 5 that the inquest on Kalafatis should
be completed by the end of June.

Who Was John Kalafatis?
--------------

4. (U) Despite initial press accounts which painted Kalafatis as a
beloved family member and victim of government brutality, an article
in the local daily "Mmegi" newspaper on June 8 seems to confirm the
government's stated position that Kalafatis was a hardened criminal
(or in South African slang a "tsotsi") and was wanted by police on
numerous charges at the time of his death. According to Mmegi,
32-year old John Kalafatis has a long and varied criminal record
dating back to at least 1995. He has been convicted of drug
possession, assault, armed robbery, vehicle theft, and unlawful
weapons possession. He served several jail sentences and, in 1999,
escaped from prison, was captured, and re-jailed. The newspaper
report also cites police sources as saying that Kalafatis was
"extremely slippery" and known to use disguises to evade capture,
including growing a long beard and pretending to be a Muslim cleric.
(Note: Kalafatis is an olive-skinned citizen of Botswana and his
family is Orthodox Christian, not Muslim. End Note.) At the time
of his death, police were allegedly tracking Kalafatis in connection
with a series of attacks on ATM machines using explosives. At least
three ATM locations in Botswana were attacked this way between July
2008 and April 2009.

Botswana Media Frenzy: Khama Accused of "Ordering a Hit"
-------------- --------------

5. (U) Initial media reports on the shooting alleged that Kalafatis
was suspected of burglarizing a farm belonging to President Khama's
sister. The May 17 edition of the "Sunday Standard" newspaper went
so far as to describe the President riding on a motorbike to rush to
his sister's house after the alleged robbery and plotting with GOB
security officials to "find and punish" those responsible. The
Standard also alleged that President Khama personally ordered a
"hit" on John Kalafatis as retribution for this robbery. Government
spokesmen of course deny this story, and contend that there was

GABORONE 00000475 002 OF 002


never even a robbery of the President's sister's home, let alone any
order by the President for retribution. The President's personal
attorney has filed a defamation lawsuit asking for damages of
850,000 pula (USD 121,400) against the Sunday Standard after they
refused to retract the story and apologize. Meanwhile, attorneys
Bayford and Bomo (the same men representing the Kalafatis family)
announced June 7 that they will file a countersuit against President
Khama on behalf of the Standard. The countersuit will "challenge
the legitimacy of Khama's presidency," according to the Standard.
The local private media has had a contentious relationship with the
Khama administration for many months. The Botswana media
strenuously object to the Media Bill passed in 2008, which they
allege strengthens government control over the press. Government
also inflamed press animosity by holding a press conference on the
Kalafatis matter on May 19 and barring reporters from private media
houses from attending. After considerable criticism for this move,
the government held a subsequent press conference May 26, at which
all reporters were welcome.

GOB lacks PR Savvy, Media Sensational and Irresponsible
-------------- --------------

6. (SBU) COMMENT: It is unfortunate that the Kalafatis case seems to
have taken on a life of its own in Botswana's sensational media
environment. Too often, the newspapers here uncritically report
rumors and innuendo, and many stories about the Kalafatis case are
so wild as to seem impossible. In addition to claiming Khama
personally ordered Kalafatis' death, the papers have recently made
poorly substantiated allegations about "foreign mercenaries" used by
Botswana's intelligence service and they have reported on random
citizens who claim to have been "tortured" by police for no apparent
reason. The newspapers appear to print all allegations against the
government, no matter how far-fetched, and require no documentation
or confirmation of facts.


7. (SBU) The irresponsible media has however been given grist for
the mill by the Khama government, whose relationship with the local
press has been prickly for months. In addition to the storm over
the government-only press conference, the media had a field day with
a May 18 statement by Vice President Mompati Merafhe that "one or
two shootings could not dent the country's reputation on rule of
law." Though widely reported as callous and indicative of the
"authoritarian" bent of this government, Merafhe's statement was
simply poorly spun and reflects a lack of media savvy by government.
In full context, Merafhe's statement is entirely harmless. He
notes that "such incidents (shootings) are to be avoided, but that
when faced with danger, security forces are obliged to respond to
force with force."


8. (SBU) Post looks forward to hearing more about the circumstances
surrounding the death of John Kalafatis when the inquest and other
internal investigations are completed later this month. Clearly
Kalafatis was a hardened criminal, a "tsotsi", who was wanted on
serious charges, but there is still considerable public shock over
the nature of his death. It will be important for the GOB to give a
full and credible account of what happened the evening of May 13 in
order to repair the damage done by these serious allegations. Any
explanation by government must address some troubling questions
about the Kalafatis shooting, especially why military intelligence
officers (and not ordinary police) were attempting to arrest him,
and why he was allegedly shot at least once at close range. Post
will continue to follow this case with great interest and report
subsequent developments. END COMMENT.

NOLAN