US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3094

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARP, SA/PB AND 
PA/PRS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/14 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, TC, PK, BG 
SUBJECT: UAE TO BE FEATURED IN HBO CAMEL JOCKEY EXPOSE 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: Post has learned from two regional NGOs 
that HBO television will soon broadcast a documentary 
alleging that UAE camel racetracks continue to use foreign 
children as camel jockeys, despite the UAEG's September 
2002 ban forbidding this practice.  The program may also 
highlight miserable living and working conditions for the 
camel jockeys, and allege other types of serious abuses. 
Action request for PA/PRS contained in paragraph 5.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) On September 10, Poloff learned that the UAE will be 
featured in an upcoming (no date given) HBO expose on the 
UAE's continued use of foreign children as camel jockeys. 
Ansar Burney, head of the Karachi-based NGO Ansar Burney 
Welfare Trust International, said the program will 
highlight the "plight of these children," including their 
poor living and working conditions and systematic physical 
abuse.  He offered no specific details of the possible 
content of the HBO program, although his organization 
worked with HBO's producers. 
 
3. (C) Burney said his organization has also made a 
documentary based on 22 hours of video highlighting the 
miserable living and working conditions of young foreign 
camel jockeys.  It depicts sexual abuse, severe beatings, 
use of electric shock, and other punishments.  Burney 
alleged to Poloff that the abuse is UAE-wide and done with 
the full complicity of the UAEG.  He said the government 
looks the other way because camel farms, where the abuses 
largely occur, are owned primarily by ruling families and 
other Emirati elites.  Burney travels regularly to the UAE 
to "rescue" camel jockeys, with the assistance of the 
Pakistani Embassy.  His last trip was in early September 
when he rescued 23 Pakistani boys, bringing the total 
number of boys repatriated with his assistance this year 
alone to 63.  His mission was reported widely in the UAE 
press. 
 
4. (C) Salma Ali, Executive Director of the Dhaka-based NGO 
Bangladesh National Womens' Lawyers Assoiation (BNWLA), 
informed Poloff on September 11 that her NGO has also 
worked with HBO television on the documentary.  She said 
she does not know when the tape will air.  BNWLA also 
worked with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation two 
years ago to produce a similar expose, broadcast in 
February 2003.  BNWLA has advocated a total ban on using 
foreign children (especially Bangladeshi children) as camel 
jockeys, and regularly works with other concerned 
international advocacy bodies, including the UN, ILO, and 
the NGO Anti-Slavery International. 
 
5. (U) Action request for PA/PRS: Post would appreciate it 
if PA would check with HBO to determine whether HBO in fact 
is planning to broadcast a documentary on this subject, as 
alleged.  If so, we would appreciate getting a copy of the 
tape and/or a transcript of the program, if possible. 
 
SISON 
 
 
 
 
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