Cablegate: Refugee Resettlement Referral: Daoud Ibrahim Hari

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNJ #1339 3240630
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200630Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4584
INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0421
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0641

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001339

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A, ACCRA AND NAIROBI FOR REFCOORDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF ASEC CD SU
SUBJECT: REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT REFERRAL: DAOUD IBRAHIM HARI

1. (SBU) Embassy N'Djamena would like to refer the following
refugee resettlement case. Below is the biographic
information of the candidate, a description of the
persecution claim, and a justification of resettlement.

2. (SBU) NAME: Daoud Ibrahim Hari
DOB: 1973
POB: Musbat, Darfur
NATIONALITY: SUDAN
GENDER: MALE

3. (SBU) DESCRIPTION OF PERSECUTION CLAIM: Applicant fled
the region for Chad in 2003 to escape persecution by the GOS
against the Darfurian community. Hari arrived in Chad in
April or May 2003 prior to the establishment of the refugee
camps in eastern Chad, and came to N'Djamena in August or
September to obtain refugee status. From 2003 to 2006, he
worked as an interpreter for humanitarian organizations and
international media outlets who were reporting on the
humanitarian crisis and atrocities in Darfur. During this
time, Daoud obtained Chadian identity papers and assumed a
different name, in order to protect himself while working
with journalists on sensitive issues in eastern Chad and
Darfur.

4. (SBU) In September 2006, he accompanied Chicago Tribune
journalist Paul Salopek from Bahai, Chad into Western Darfur.
There, they were ambushed by Sudanese Liberation Movement
(SLM) soldiers loyal to Sudanese presidential advisor Minni
Minawi, handed to Sudanese authorities in El Fasher, and
charged by the GOS with espionage, illegal entry, and the
publication of false news stories. After 35 days of
incarceration and chronic mistreatment, including regular
beatings and other forms of inhumane treatment, their release
was successful negotiated by Governor Bill Richardson.
During his time in prison, Daoud was recognized as Darfurian.
Upon returning to Chad, his identity as a Sudanese national
became known to the Government of Chad.

5. (SBU) Since his return to Chad, Har has been monitored,
interrogated, harassed, and threatened with deportation back
to Sudan by Chadian National Security Agency authorities.
According to Hari, ANS officials are accusing Hari of being a
spy for the Sudanese government and having knowledge of GOS
support for Chadian rebel groups trying to overthrow the
current regime in Chad. Chad accuses Sudan of supporting
Chadian rebels responsible for recent attacks against the
Chadian government. Hari also suspects that certain ANS
officials are also fearful that Hari will expose human rights
abuses by the Chadian government, much as he has done in
Darfur.

6. (SBU) On November 9, he was detained by ANS officials,
who not only interrogated him for over two hours, but also
physically abused him. He was hit over the head twice. He
is currently being treated for his injuries, and UNHCR has
offered him temporary shelter in the even that ANS officials
continue to harass him.

7. (SBU) JUSTIFICATION FOR RESETTLEMENT: Embassy N'Djamena,
which has spoken to Daoud directly and UNHCR resettlement
officers, believes Daoud is under immediate threat of
persecution by Chadian authorities on account of his
perceived political opinions, and recommends that his case be
expedited. As long as Daoud remains in Chad, he will be
subject to persecution in the form of interrogation and
physical abuse. Daoud is also at risk of refoulement. In
Sudan, he is at risk of torture, incarceration, and even
death, and Sudanese authorities still view him as complicit
in Paul Salopek's activities in September.
WALL

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