US embassy cable - 04SANAA546

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000546 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PRM-CAMILLE D HILL 
ADDIS FOR REFCOORD JON EKLUND 
CAIRO FOR REFCOORD GERARD CHEYNE 
ATHENS FOR DHS JACOB ANTONINIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PREF, YM, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SIT-IN BY ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES AT UNHCR 
SANA'A 
 
REF: SANAA 00397 
 
Classified By: DCM ALAN G. MISENHEIMER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  The sit-in by Ethiopian refugees reported 
in reftel remains unchanged after nearly one month.  A group 
of refugees continues to camp outside UNHCR's Sana'a offices 
in the road adjacent to the residence of the DCM. Contacts 
with Yemeni officials indicate willingness by the ROYG to 
permit the demonstration to continue until a complete 
solution to the refugees' situation, i.e. resettlement to the 
U.S. or Canada, is found.  DHS regional refugee coordinator 
might consider postponing travel to Yemen if demonstrators 
obstruct upcoming case screening visit by our overseas 
processing entity ICMC.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  Post has sustained an active dialogue with ROYG 
authorities regarding the ongoing sit-in strike by Ethiopian 
refugees -- members of the armed forces of the previous 
regime -- reported reftel. In a meeting on March 1 with 
Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Noman, Pol/Econ Chief raised 
Post's concerns about the demonstration and the potential 
security threat to the DCM's residence.  Noman agreed that 
there is a real security concern and promised to discuss the 
matter with Foreign Minister Qirbi.  After the meeting, the 
MFA confirmed that that conversation had occurred and would 
be followed up by further discussions. 
 
3.  (U)  The demonstrators addressed a letter to the Embassy 
seeking U.S. intervention.  CONS Chief sent a written reply 
urging continued engagement with UNHCR and the ROYG. 
 
4.  (SBU)  RSO met with BG Ahmed Sunidar, the Interior 
Minister's Chief of Staff, on March 8 to express Mission's 
growing concern about the security risks posed by the 
well-publicized continuing demonstration.  During the meeting 
the RSO made several attempts to get Sunidar on record as to 
whether the ROYG would or would not move the demonstrators or 
end the demonstration.  Sunidar would only offer to add more 
security.  Throughout the discussion Sunidar emphasized 
political and historical aspects of the situation maintaining 
that the solution rests with UNHCR and ultimately the U.S. 
and Canada - the countries to which most of the refugees seek 
resettlement.  Sunidar joked that, even if the DCM moved his 
residence, the demonstration and UNHCR might follow. 
 
5.  (C) Comment.  Based on multiple contacts with the ROYG 
during the last month concerning this ongoing situation it is 
clear that the ROYG is permitting the demonstration to 
continue in the hope that the problem posed by the presence 
of several hundred former Ethiopian sailors will be solved by 
an outside actor -- UNHCR and/or the United States.  There 
are anecdotal reports of demonstrators falling ill, but no 
visible indication that the demonstrators' resolve is 
flagging.  With the ROYG, similarly, showing no inclination 
to act and UNHCR privately expressing frustration at the 
impasse, Post is concerned that the upcoming visit by our 
overseas processing entity ICMC, during which cases referred 
by UNHCR will be screened at the Sheraton Hotel, may become a 
new or second locus of the demonstration. If this should 
occur and materially hamper ICMC's ability to screen 
qualified referrals, the DHS regional representative may wish 
to consider postponing travel to Yemen set for next month 
lest similar demonstrations dominate the visit and impede 
other work.  End Comment. 
HULL