Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1435
2009-08-07 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
Uzbekistan: ICRC Prison Monitoring Program Extended
how-toVZCZCXRO7521 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #1435 2191411 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071245Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001435
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: ICRC Prison Monitoring Program Extended
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001435
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: ICRC Prison Monitoring Program Extended
1. (SBU) Rafaello Muller, Deputy Head of the International
Committee for the Red Cross's (ICRC) Regional Delegation, informed
poloff today that the GOU agreed on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, to
extend last year's six-month pilot program allowing ICRC to enter
and evaluate prisons. Prison visits are authorized to begin
immediately, and to go on indefinitely.
2. (SBU) The prison visits will be allowed only in the same
types of institutions as in last year's program: actual prison
facilities run by the Ministry of the Interior. Muller stated that
negotiations are continuing, however, and that he believes he will
have even more positive news soon - perhaps as early as next week,
on related activities. ICRC had been pushing for access to
additional facilities, such as pre-trial detention holding areas
and police stations, so it may be that its program will be expanded
to include those facilities.
3. (SBU) Muller stated that the GOU wants to keep this issue
low-profile. Therefore, although ICRC will answer inquiries
openly, it will not be doing an official announcement or press
release of any kind.
4. (SBU) Comment: This agreement is indeed being kept very
quiet, in fact, it was only because of an off-hand comment at the
MFA yesterday that post followed up with the ICRC and learned about
the agreement today. This issue was one of the top priorities on
our human rights agenda, however, and it was something that Under
Secretary Bill Burns brought up during his meetings here in July.
We'll never know for sure what impact these efforts had, but we're
certainly pleased to report this development. End comment.
BUTCHER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: ICRC Prison Monitoring Program Extended
1. (SBU) Rafaello Muller, Deputy Head of the International
Committee for the Red Cross's (ICRC) Regional Delegation, informed
poloff today that the GOU agreed on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, to
extend last year's six-month pilot program allowing ICRC to enter
and evaluate prisons. Prison visits are authorized to begin
immediately, and to go on indefinitely.
2. (SBU) The prison visits will be allowed only in the same
types of institutions as in last year's program: actual prison
facilities run by the Ministry of the Interior. Muller stated that
negotiations are continuing, however, and that he believes he will
have even more positive news soon - perhaps as early as next week,
on related activities. ICRC had been pushing for access to
additional facilities, such as pre-trial detention holding areas
and police stations, so it may be that its program will be expanded
to include those facilities.
3. (SBU) Muller stated that the GOU wants to keep this issue
low-profile. Therefore, although ICRC will answer inquiries
openly, it will not be doing an official announcement or press
release of any kind.
4. (SBU) Comment: This agreement is indeed being kept very
quiet, in fact, it was only because of an off-hand comment at the
MFA yesterday that post followed up with the ICRC and learned about
the agreement today. This issue was one of the top priorities on
our human rights agenda, however, and it was something that Under
Secretary Bill Burns brought up during his meetings here in July.
We'll never know for sure what impact these efforts had, but we're
certainly pleased to report this development. End comment.
BUTCHER