US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI782

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000782 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RABAT/CASABLANCA PASS TO IBB/DARREL DUCKWORTH IN TANGIER 
BBG PASS TO WALTER BORYS AND WILFRED COOPER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, ASEC, KPAO, KU, DJ, BBG 
SUBJECT: PK12 RETURNS TO FULL OPERATIONS AFTER MAY EXPLOSION 
 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: The International Board of Broadcasters 
(IBB) radio station at PK12 is back to full operations after 
an explosion and subsequent detection of unexploded 
ordinance (UXO) on the site. Plans for full site clearance 
continue. END SUMMARY 
 
2. (U)  At 2am on May 3 an explosion took place in an unused 
area of the PK12 compound, IBB's Radio Sawa site in 
Djibouti, which is a former French firing range. No one was 
injured and property damage was minimal.The explosion was 
determined by Djiboutian authorities and the RSO to be 
caused by UXO and not/not to be criminally related in any 
way. RSO prohibited all USG employees from accessing the 
site as a safety concern until the situation could be 
further examined and resolved. 
 
3. (U) IBB is currently pursuing full-clearance of the site 
through the engagement of two possible providers: The U.S. 
Military and the Djiboutian Military. Any clearance 
agreement would cover the entire site, plus 150-ft. from 
site perimeter. The Djiboutian military would sign a 
liability waiver in case of injury to their personnel during 
the clearance process. All associated costs would be borne 
by IBB. 
 
4. (U) On May 26, the RSO approved the return of American 
personnel to cleared areas of the site contingent upon 
posting of warning signs in multiple languages around 
affected area and briefings for all personnel on safety 
issues. 
 
5. (U) Every station employee (USG and local partner) was 
briefed. Security personnel at IBB and DOS, as well as Post 
and IBB management approved the content of the briefing. At 
Post's recommendation, each station employee signed a 
statement attesting that he or she had been instructed on 
which areas of IBB property were off-limits. These forms 
will be kept on file by IBB. 
 
6. (U) A team of explosives experts from Camp Lemonier 
surveyed the site. In this initial survey 36 pieces of 
unexploded ordinance were found and destroyed. The team 
leader proposed that the Camp Lemonier group provide a full 
sweep and clearance of the site in conjunction with the 
Djiboutian demining team. The clearance would be a training 
exercise, with minimal associated costs borne by IBB. 
 
7. (U) Comment: It is the opinion of the team leader that 
little or no additional ordinance will be found on the site; 
however, there is some concern that locals are finding UXO 
and bringing it to the site for disposal. The 36 pieces were 
removed from an unused area of the compound that is 
surrounded by a chain link fence, in addition to the usual 
perimeter fence and security.  No/no ordinance was found on 
developed areas of the compound. 
 
8. (SBU) The JAG at Camp Lemonier has rejected the team 
leader's proposal on the following grounds: 
 
"From 10 United States Code Section 401, entitled 
"Humanitarian and civic 
assistance provided in conjunction with military 
operations": (a)(4) "The Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that no member of the armed forces, while providing 
assistance under this section that is described in 
subsection (e)(5)---(A) engages in the physical detection, 
lifting, or destroying of landmines (unless the member does 
so for the concurrent purpose of supporting a United States 
military operation); or (B) provides such assistance as part 
of a military operation that does not involve the armed 
forces." (e)(5) "Detection and clearance of landmines, 
including activities relating to the furnishing of 
education, training, and technical assistance with respect 
to 
the detection and clearance of landmines." 
 
9. (SBU) Post and IBB and question whether the JAG 
interpretation is accurate given that this clearance does 
not deal with landmines and would take place on USG 
property. We understand that a similar project took place at 
the IBB site in Kuwait in 1993, with UXO cleared by DOD. IBB 
is following up through appropriate DOD channels in 
Washington. 
 
RAGSDALE