Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STATE7269
2010-01-25 17:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
RE: DEMARCHE ON RESTITUTION FOR TANZANIAN TIP
how-toVZCZCXRO7288 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHC #7269 0251742 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251736Z JAN 10 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 7420 INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 3688 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0238 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 7953 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0464
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 007269
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG TZ
SUBJECT: RE: DEMARCHE ON RESTITUTION FOR TANZANIAN TIP
VICTIM
REF: STATE 13172
Classified By: AF/E GEETA PASI
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 007269
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG TZ
SUBJECT: RE: DEMARCHE ON RESTITUTION FOR TANZANIAN TIP
VICTIM
REF: STATE 13172
Classified By: AF/E GEETA PASI
1.(C) SUMMARY: In response to a joint Protocol-AF demarche
on the U.S. court judgment against Tanzanian diplomat Alan
Mzengi for involvement in trafficking in persons, an
uncharacteristically defensive Ambassador Sefue argued that
USG views on the case are one-sided. He expressed disbelief
that the alleged victim was never paid, and recounted his
efforts to bring the two parties together. However, in spite
of his efforts to dispute the facts of the case, he clearly
heard the message that the Government of Tanzania must
respond to our request for information and assistance. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricia Penavic
Marshall, Acting AF/E Director David Reimer, and Deskoff
delivered reftel demarche to Tanzanian Ambassador Ombeni
Sefue on the U.S. federal court default judgment against
Tanzanian diplomat Alan Mzengi and his wife for damages due
to trafficking and ill treatment of their domestic worker,
Zipora Mazengo, on January 19, 2010.
3. (C) After a welcome and introduction to the subject by
Ambassador Marshall, AF/E Acting Director delivered the
demarche points. In response, Ambassador Sefue attempted to
debate the facts of the case. He said that although he has
limited personal knowledge of the case, he believes the USG
is biased in favor of Mazengo because we lack knowledge of
Mzengi's perspective. Citing two examples, he mentioned that
Mzengi and Mazengo are family and that, before Mazengo came
to the United States, Mzengi paid for her education. He
expressed disbelief that she was never paid anything, asking
how she could have clothed herself for four years without
money. He also recounted efforts to bring Mazengo and Mzengi
together at the embassy and his residence for dialogue. He
said the efforts ultimately failed because Mazengo's lawyers
would not let her go to the embassy. (Note: Mazengo's lawyer
offered to meet in a neutral setting, which Mzengi reportedly
rejected.)
4.(C) AF/E Acting Director responded that our intention was
not to debate the facts of the case but to solicit a response
from the GOT to the points raised in the demarche. We
reiterated the final point of potential suspension of A-3 and
G-5 visa privileges if the GOT was unresponsive to the
demarche request. In response to a direct question from AF/E
Acting Director on Mzengi's whereabouts, Ambassador Sefue
said he thought Mzengi was in Tanzania, but was unsure
exactly where.
5. (C) COMMENT: Normally amiable and articulate, Ambassador
Sefue appeared taken aback and consistently tried to steer
the conversation back to a debate of the facts of the case.
However, it was clear that he heard and understood the
message that the Tanzanian Government cannot ignore our
requests for information and assistance. Working closely
with Post, the Department will continue to press the GOT on
this issue.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG TZ
SUBJECT: RE: DEMARCHE ON RESTITUTION FOR TANZANIAN TIP
VICTIM
REF: STATE 13172
Classified By: AF/E GEETA PASI
1.(C) SUMMARY: In response to a joint Protocol-AF demarche
on the U.S. court judgment against Tanzanian diplomat Alan
Mzengi for involvement in trafficking in persons, an
uncharacteristically defensive Ambassador Sefue argued that
USG views on the case are one-sided. He expressed disbelief
that the alleged victim was never paid, and recounted his
efforts to bring the two parties together. However, in spite
of his efforts to dispute the facts of the case, he clearly
heard the message that the Government of Tanzania must
respond to our request for information and assistance. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricia Penavic
Marshall, Acting AF/E Director David Reimer, and Deskoff
delivered reftel demarche to Tanzanian Ambassador Ombeni
Sefue on the U.S. federal court default judgment against
Tanzanian diplomat Alan Mzengi and his wife for damages due
to trafficking and ill treatment of their domestic worker,
Zipora Mazengo, on January 19, 2010.
3. (C) After a welcome and introduction to the subject by
Ambassador Marshall, AF/E Acting Director delivered the
demarche points. In response, Ambassador Sefue attempted to
debate the facts of the case. He said that although he has
limited personal knowledge of the case, he believes the USG
is biased in favor of Mazengo because we lack knowledge of
Mzengi's perspective. Citing two examples, he mentioned that
Mzengi and Mazengo are family and that, before Mazengo came
to the United States, Mzengi paid for her education. He
expressed disbelief that she was never paid anything, asking
how she could have clothed herself for four years without
money. He also recounted efforts to bring Mazengo and Mzengi
together at the embassy and his residence for dialogue. He
said the efforts ultimately failed because Mazengo's lawyers
would not let her go to the embassy. (Note: Mazengo's lawyer
offered to meet in a neutral setting, which Mzengi reportedly
rejected.)
4.(C) AF/E Acting Director responded that our intention was
not to debate the facts of the case but to solicit a response
from the GOT to the points raised in the demarche. We
reiterated the final point of potential suspension of A-3 and
G-5 visa privileges if the GOT was unresponsive to the
demarche request. In response to a direct question from AF/E
Acting Director on Mzengi's whereabouts, Ambassador Sefue
said he thought Mzengi was in Tanzania, but was unsure
exactly where.
5. (C) COMMENT: Normally amiable and articulate, Ambassador
Sefue appeared taken aback and consistently tried to steer
the conversation back to a debate of the facts of the case.
However, it was clear that he heard and understood the
message that the Tanzanian Government cannot ignore our
requests for information and assistance. Working closely
with Post, the Department will continue to press the GOT on
this issue.
CLINTON