Cablegate: (U) Libya - Fifth Annual Tip Report Submission

P R 011643Z MAR 05
FM USLO TRIPOLI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0138
INFO USLO TRIPOLI

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000051

STATE FOR NEA/MAG SBUTLER; NEA/MAG AWELLS; G/TIP FASSEFA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG LY
SUBJECT: (U) LIBYA - FIFTH ANNUAL TIP REPORT SUBMISSION

REF: STATE 273089

1. (U) The U.S. Government resumed direct bilateral relations
with Libya on June 28, 2004, after a 24-year gap, following
Libya's decision to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction
programs and Missile Control Technology Regime-class missiles.

2. (U) Libya remains among the countries considered special
cases because although press, media, and NGO reports indicate a
significant human trafficking problem within its territory, the
USG has not been able to verify these reports directly because
of its long absence from Tripoli. During the reporting period,
Libya engaged with affected countries, particularly in Europe,
to combat illegal migration, smuggling and human trafficking.
Until this reporting period, the Libyan Government had denied it
had any problem with immigration and trafficking in persons.

3. (U) There are an estimated 1.5 million non-Libyans resident
in Libya, most from North African and Sub-Saharan African
nations. This intricately mixed migrant community makes
identification of the various groups and the circumstances under
which they arrived in Libya difficult. According to most
reports, Libya is a transit country for men, women, and children
from Africa and Asia who hope eventually to migrate illegally to
Europe. A large number of Africans arrive via the arduous
journey through the Sahara across Libya's porous borders with
Chad, Niger, Sudan, and Egypt, although many reportedly die in
the desert before reaching Libya. Libya's porous 1100-mile
(1,770 km) coastline is a route also used by traffickers in
North African countries. Those attempting to reach Europe
through Libya are exploited by smugglers who promise employment
in Libya so that they can earn the $800-$1,000 per person fee to
cross the Mediterranean. However, some may be forced to work as
prostitutes, laborers, and beggars to pay the debt to
traffickers because jobs are not readily available.

4. (U) African, Libyan and European smugglers reportedly operate
much like an organized crime syndicate using deception to entice
would-be migrants from their country of origin. Hundreds are
reported to have perished in the waters of the Mediterranean
when their boats, supplied by smugglers, capsized or when they
were left afloat in boats that were in poor condition. In 2004,
there were reports of thousands of Africans arriving into Italy
each month by boat.

Government Action
-----------------
5. (U) Due to lack of information, the extent of the Libyan
Government's efforts to fight trafficking is not clear, but it
has begun joint and active collaborations with other affected
countries, particularly Italy, indicating that Libya recognizes
it has a problem and is making an effort to fight human
trafficking. In June 2004, the Libyan Government organized a
conference of regional governments that are facing similar
problems. In October, the Government invited the International
Organization for Migration to Tripoli to discuss migration
management. The Government considers all foreigners to be
economic migrants and does not stipulate whether they are
refugees, asylum seekers or trafficked persons.

6. (U) In February 2004, the Libyan Government extradited a
major Eritrean human trafficker to Italy, after the Italian
Government issued a warrant for her arrest. In 2004, the
Nigerian police handed over 20 of its nationals to Nigerian
anti-trafficking authorities for further investigations and
prosecution. The victims were on their way to Libya via the
Niger Republic.

Areas for Improvement
---------------------
7. (U) The Government of Libya, given the extensive trafficking
within its territory, should conduct research to determine the
extent of the problem and continue cooperating with neighboring
countries. It should work with source and destination countries
on anti-trafficking efforts by sharing information as well as
tracking and evaluating its anti-trafficking efforts. Libya
should similarly combine forces with the International
Organization for Migration and NGOs active in the fight against
human trafficking.

BERRY

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