VZCZCXRO2058
RR RUEHGI
DE RUEHNJ #0197 1211322
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301322Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6209
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2310
RUCNDT/USUN NEW YORK
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1684
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1500
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 1057
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1391
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0947
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000197
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER, STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN, AF/C, AF/RSA AND
DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD UN PREF PHUM EU SU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR USG ASSISTANCE TO CHADIAN NATIONAL
INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION
REF: A) N'DJAMENA 149, B) N'DJAMENA-AF/C EMAILS
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE: SEE PARA 6.
2. (SBU) THE USG COULD SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORT THE "OPENING" OF THE
CHADIAN INTERNAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT PROCESS BY PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE TO THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION SET UP TO SHED
LIGHT ON EVENTS FOLLOWING THE FAILED REBEL ATTACK ON N'DJAMENA IN
FEBRUARY, INCLUDING THE DETENTION BY CHADIAN SECURITY FORCES OF
OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS, AND ESPECIALLY THE CONTINUED DISAPPEARANCE
OF OPPOSITION COALITION SPOKESMAN, MAHAMAT IBNI OUMAR SALEH.
3. (SBU) THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD SEEK TO SEND A U.S. LEGAL/FORENSIC
EXPERT TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION IN ITS WORK. A U.S. EXPERT WITH A
MILITARY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING
MILITARY OPERATIONS WOULD BE A USEFUL COMPLEMENT TO THE CIVILIAN
EXPERTS THAT THE EU AND FRANCE PLAN TO SEND TO CHAD TO ASSIST THE
COMMISSION.
4. (U) THE COMMISSION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ITS WORK MAY 1 AND
FINISH UP ON JUNE 30. WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH THE FRENCH AND EU
MISSIONS, BOTH OF WHICH ENCOURAGED U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE EFFORT
TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION. A USG EXPERT NEED NOT BE IN CHAD FOR THE
ENTIRE TWO-MONTH PERIOD; EVEN A THREE- TO FOUR-WEEK STAY WOULD BE
EXTREMELY USEFUL.
5. (SBU) THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ALSO DEMARCHE THE UN IN NY AND
GENEVA TO ENCOURAGE PROVISION OF EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO THE CHADIAN
NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION BY THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN
GENEVA. BOTH THE EU AND FRANCE HAVE MADE SIMILAR DEMARCHES,
ACCORDING TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: THAT THE DEPARTMENT (A) SEND A U.S.
LEGAL/HUMAN RIGHTS/FORENSIC EXPERT (POSSIBLY WITH A MILITARY
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE) TO ASSIST THE CHADIAN NATIONAL
INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION IN ITS WORK; AND (B) DEMARCHE THE UN IN NY
AND GENEVA TO ENCOURAGE PROVISION OF EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO THE
COMMISSION BY THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN GENEVA. NIGRO