ICRC RELAUNCHES PRISON VISIT PROGRAM IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA

UNCLAS MALABO 000057

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

AF/C FOR S. LOPEZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV PREL EK
SUBJECT: ICRC RELAUNCHES PRISON VISIT PROGRAM IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA

REF: Malabo 143 and Previous


1. (SBU) On Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19, two senior
officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
successfully reinstituted a program of prison visits in
Equatorial Guinea. In March of 2008 the ICRC suspended such
visits when it determined that some of the agreed-upon terms of
the memorandum of understanding were not being met --
specifically access to all prisoners. The ICRC officials, who
were delayed several days while awaiting official approvals
during a period that included distractions such as presidential
birthday celebrations, the death neighboring Gabonese President
Bongo, two high-level bilateral visits (including Egyptian and
Ethiopian officials) and the birth of the first son of Minister
of Justice Ondo (the ICRC's primary point of contact). The ICRC
overcame the last hurdle to reinstitution of visits by securing
approval from Minister of Defense Antonio Mba Nguema, whose
signature did not originally appear with that of the minister of
justice (MOJ). While the MOJ has authority over prisons in EG,
these institutions are partially staffed by the MOD.




2. (SBU) Once approval came, the ICRC officials reported that
their prison visit to Malabo's Black Beach Prison went fairly
smoothly. They described the first day as being a "occasionally
uncomfortable" as prison officials displayed suspicion and
occasional resistance to the ICRC's reentry after such long
absence. By Friday, a level of comfort had returned and the
ICRC team informed the embassy that they conducted remaining
business with no questions or challenges and were generally
"well received." The team was given a list of 146 prisoners,
all of whom were present. The team was able to speak at will
with all prisoners who consented to interviews, to include Simon
Man and others convicted in the attempted 2004 coup attempt, and
seven Nigerians on trial for supporting the more-recent,
February 17 water-borne attack on the presidential compound.




3. (SBU) Three prisoners, alleged by many human rights groups
to be present in Black Beach -- and the main point of contention
that led to the ICRC suspension of activities last year -- were
determined not to be present at this time. The ICRC team was
"reasonably confident" they had access to all prisoners in Black
Beach, and even visited administrative and other areas to ensure
no prisoners were overlooked. They described conditions as
reasonably good, although poor quality of food, the absence of
adequate healthcare and lack of daily exercise outside of cells
were common complaints. No prisoners were found in shackles and
there were no related complaints, according to the ICRC team.
While a larger ICRC team will return in the future to conduct a
more thorough visit of Black Beach (along with other detention
facilities) the present team (which included a medical doctor)
stated it "could not confirm" charges made by UNSCR Nowak
(REFTEL) of systematic or other torture.




4. (SBU) COMMENT: The embassy has been active in brokering ICRC
reentry into EG. Delays experienced appear not to have been
politically motivated, although EG officials remain very
apprehensive on this issue set following Nowak's 2008 visit and
ensuing spectacular public statements. The two ICRC officials,
while frustrated by a delay, were "pleased" with the results
once they came. Continued progress will lead to reopening the
ICRC office in EG, we are told, and the two officials will press
ICRC headquarters to quickly field another team that can spend
more time on the ground so as to maintain momentum and
regularize ICRC presence in the country. A "nudge" from the USG
might help accelerate related ICRC headquarters' decisions, they
said at departure.

SMITH