PRESSING PHILIPPINES ON SUDAN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001209 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS DEPT FOR IO/RHS DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019 TAGS: AORC PGOV PHUM PREL RP SU SUBJECT: PRESSING PHILIPPINES ON SUDAN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REF: STATE 55852 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador coordinated closely with French Ambassador Thierry Borja de Mozota June 5 on a joint effort to underscore to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the depth of international concern regarding the human rights situation in Sudan and to urge the Philippine government to support a one-year extension of the Special Rapporteur position for Sudan, without any watering down of the Special Rapporteur's mandate. ¶2. (C) In addition to the Ambassador's outreach, A/DCM on June 5 raised the Sudan Special Rapporteur's mandate extension with DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Lourdes Yparraguirre, who said she fully understood our deep concern and pledged to raise the issue with other senior officials at DFA, including the Assistant Secretary for the UN and International Organizations (UNIO). ¶2. (C) Mission on June 5 also discussed with DFA/UNIO Human Rights Director Leila Lorasantos the extension of the Special Rapporteur's mandate. Lorasantos welcomed Mission's explanation of U.S. views and outlined that the Philippine government has usually supported the UN consensus on Sudan. She said the Philippine human rights delegation in Geneva is seeking to ascertain the position of the UNHRC Africa Group as well, and said her government's stance would be influenced by the nature of the language crafted into the resolution on Sudan later this month in Geneva. The Philippine government generally prefers that country-specific UN resolutions have the "active engagement of the country involved," Lorasantos said. KENNEY