US embassy cable - 04NASSAU1936

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001936 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM - ROD MACKLER, NANCY IRIS, KATHERINE 
PERKINS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2014 
TAGS: SMIG, PGOV, PHUM, CU, BF, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: UNCONFIRMED TUBERCULOSIS AND ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT 
NASSAU DETENTION CENTER 
 
 
Classified By: Political Chief Michael P. Taylor, Reasons 1.4 (B) AND ( 
D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: On October 18, 2004, Amnesty International 
released a report alleging the abuse of two Cuban 
asylum-seekers and several Haitian detainees at the 
Carmichael Road Detention Center in Nassau.  Severe 
conditions including deprivation of food and water, an 
outbreak of tuberculosis, and the denial of medical treatment 
were also highlighted in this report.  Bahamian officials 
denied the allegations, stating that one Cuban detainee had 
manifested tuberculosis-like symptoms, but had been taken to 
the hospital and found to have AIDS instead.  A visit by 
embassy personnel to the detention center on October 18 
revealed no obvious signs of abuse or disease.  The one 
American citizen who had been detained at the center was 
released and sent back to the U.S. on October 19.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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One AIDS Case Diagnosed 
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2.  (C) Two large sloops each with approximately 100 Haitians 
on board were interdicted by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force 
(RBDF) in late September.  The Embassy's Coast Guard Liaison 
Officer and Political Officer arranged to interview the 
migrants on October 8, but the appointment was canceled at 
the last minute due to unspecified "internal problems.  An 
RBDF officer unofficially told the embassy that there was an 
outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) at the center. 
 
3.  (C) The Deputy Director of Immigration told the embassy 
on October 19 that confusion had occurred when a Cuban 
migrant manifested tuberculosis-like symptoms.  He was taken 
to the government-run hospital and diagnosed to have AIDS, 
however, not tuberculosis.  The detention center's Chief 
Superintendent confirmed that a medical team had been 
dispatched to the center for follow-up, but that no cases of 
TB were found. 
 
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Amnesty International Alleges Physical Abuse 
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4.  (U) On October 18, Amnesty International released a 
report alleging that Haitian and Cuban detainees had been 
beaten and mistreated at the detention center.  According to 
the report, two Cuban asylum-seekers, Rene Mendoza Banos and 
Jorge Luis Conde, were beaten with batons on October 1 and 
then subjected to a mock execution.  The Cuban detainees are 
reportedly members of the "Partido Democratico 30 de 
Noviembre" who left Cuba to escape police harassment. 
Amnesty also alleged that several Haitians were seriously 
injured and denied medical treatment on October 9-11 after 
being beaten in retaliation for an escape of Haitians on 
October 9. 
 
5.  (C) Bahamian officials confirm that six or seven Haitians 
did recently escape and are currently being sought by law 
enforcement officials.  All of the other Haitians interdicted 
at the end of September have been repatriated back to Haiti. 
 
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Embassy Personnel Visit Detention Center 
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6. (C) On October 18, Consular Officer, accompanied by the 
Coast Guard Liaison Officer and the Political Officer, 
visited a female American citizen being held at the detention 
center for vagrancy.  The Consular Officer confirmed her 
citizenship and arranged for her departure on the evening of 
October 19 to Miami. 
 
7. (C) Embassy personnel spoke only to the American citizen 
and detention center officials.  Upon casual observation, 
approximately 100 detainees remain at the center.  They 
appear to be mainly Cubans.  The detainees showed no obvious 
injuries and seemed to be in generally good health. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8. (C) The asylum-seeking process for Cubans in The Bahamas 
is a long and arduous one.  Bahamian immigration officials 
interview detainees and make recommendations to the UN High 
Commissioner for Refugees, which in turns makes 
recommendations to the Bahamian cabinet for final decision. 
Only six refugees were recommended for asylum in 2003; the 
rest were designated for repatriation to Cuba. 
 
9. (C) To repatriate Cuban nationals to Cuba, however, the 
Bahamian government must receive permission from the 
Government of Cuba on a case-by-case basis.  The Cuban 
government supposedly does an in depth investigation into the 
individual's background and situation, a process which can 
takes months if not a year, while the migrants remain at the 
detention center at Bahamian expense.  Similarly, once the 
Cuban government decides to accept a Cuban migrant, the 
Bahamian government must bear the financial burden of 
repatriating them.  Speeding up the repatriation process is 
reportedly one of the reasons why The Bahamas recently agreed 
to open an embassy in Havana. 
 
ROOD