US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI1604

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G, G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA, AND NEA/ARPI 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2010 
TAGS: PHUM, KDEM, ELAB, ETRD, TC, Camel Jockeys 
SUBJECT: UAE CAMEL JOCKEY SOLUTION: ROBOTS 
 
REF: ABU DHABI 1152 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister and de facto Foreign 
Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed told Ambassador April 10 
that the UAE was working to resolve the camel 
jockey/trafficking in persons (TIP) problem.  Sheikh Hamdan, 
who is also Chairman of the Camel Racing Federation, said the 
UAE has already taken several serious steps to address the 
issue, referring to the new law banning jockeys under age 16 
from taking part in camel races, and to the successful 
testing of a robot camel jockey.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador called on Sheikh Hamdan April 10 to review 
a number of bilateral and other issues (non-TIP topics 
reported septel).  Attending the meeting were MFA U/S 
Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi; Sheikh Hamdan's office manager 
Ambassador Sultan Al Romeithi; Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince 
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed's special advisor Yousef Al Otaiba; 
and Pol Chief. 
 
3. (C) Before Ambassador could conclude her tour d'horizon 
overview of various military, FTA, and regional issues, 
Sheikh Hamdan exclaimed, "I have been waiting for this 
meeting."  He noted that the UAE leadership was concerned 
about the TIP report that will be sent to Congress, and was 
therefore rapidly implementing measures to address the 
underage camel jockey problem.  Sheikh Hamdan, who announced 
in mid-March that a new law banning underage camel jockeys 
would take effect by March 31, added that the UAE is very 
serious and responsive about this.  He said the UAE was 
working to make sure this is resolved expeditiously.  The 
Ambassador made clear that it was important to maintain 
"positive momentum," especially as the U.S. and UAE are 
headed into the second round of FTA negotiations in May.  The 
UAE needs to take immediate and visible steps to help the 
young camel jockeys working in the UAE, including rescue and 
compassionate repatriation, the Ambassador told Sheikh 
Hamdan.  She underscored the urgent need for rescue and 
repatriation data that would illustrate UAE efforts to combat 
the problem. 
 
4. (C) In addition to the new law, Sheikh Hamdan signaled 
another positive development -- the testing of a camel jockey 
robot.  The camel jockey prototype was tested April 9 in Abu 
Dhabi as Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin 
Zayed looked on.  When the UAE camel racing season resumes in 
October 2005, camel owners will use remote-controlled, 
lightweight robots instead of underage children.  (Note: The 
new law bans jockeys under 16 years of age from competing in 
camel races, and stipulates that their weight should exceed 
45 kilograms.  Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labor 
contacts have confirmed that the two-month grace period for 
repatriating the children began on March 31.  After that 
date, employers will be subject to penalties and prosecution. 
 However, the UAEG has not yet published the law in the 
official gazette.  End note.) 
 
5. (C) Comment: The UAEG continues to emphasize its 
commitment to resolve the camel jockey issue.  The UAEG has 
heavily publicized that the law went into effect March 31 and 
that the grace period started ticking on that date.  While 
repatriation of the camel jockeys has started with jockeys 
trickling into source country embassies, we have been 
repeating to officials here that they need to accelerate and 
document this process.  Meanwhile, after meeting with 
Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed on April 6, a UNICEF 
regional director, Rima Saleh, commended the UAE for working 
to resolve the underage camel jockey problem and urged other 
countries to follow the UAE's example.  We will remind Sheikh 
Hamdan again in a scheduled April 12 meeting of the urgency 
of documenting the repatriation and rescue.  End Comment. 
SISON