US embassy cable - 05ADDISABABA3757

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 003757 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF A/S FRAZER, DAS YAMAMOTO AND USAID AA PIERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ET, UNREST, ELEC 
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS DIPLOMATS CUD 
RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE, BUT DETAINEES WILL RECEIVE FAIR 
TRIALS 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. VICKI HUDDLESTON. 
REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
 
1. (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told members 
of the Ambassadors Donors Group (ADG),  on November 2 that 
the GOE will not re-open a dialogue with the detained CUD 
leadership, but left the door open to engaging more moderate 
opposition members.  He assured the donors that the basic 
human rights of detainees would be respected and that they 
would receive fair trails.  Seyoum squarely blamed the CUD 
for the ongoing violence.  He said the GOE had been patient 
and tolerant, but that peace and security must be ensured, 
though the GOE would continue to use restraint. Seyoum stated 
that investigations on the June demonstrations, previously 
delayed for political reasons, could now begin.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The Nov. 2 meeting with Minister Seyoum was amid 
continuing clashes between anti-government demonstrators and 
security forces in various parts of Addis Ababa. Participants 
in the meeting included approximately ten members of the 
Ambassadors Donors Group currently chaired by Ambassador 
Huddleston and Economic/Commercial Officer (note-taker.) 
 
GOE SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH 
------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Seyoum stated that the GOE had "gone more than half 
way" in meeting the opposition's demands, given space to 
deepen the democratic process, and had exercised considerable 
patience. However, some members of the opposition 
(specifically, the CUD) had from the beginning used the 
elections as a tactic to overthrow the constitutional order. 
The CUD is continuing to create "havoc and disaster in the 
country," Seyoum stated. According to Seyoum, the GOE's 
message has been clear and consistent: we will engage you as 
partners if you commit to the democratic process.  Now, 
however, the CUD wants to bring a "tsunami" to Ethiopia to 
destroy the EPRDF. 
 
4. (C) Starting Monday evening, Seyoum noted, the CUD began 
organizing "hard-core" constituents and transporting these 
supporters to Mercato with the aim of inciting violence. 
Seyoum noted that on November 1, 6 demonstrators and 2 police 
officers had been killed, and 23 other individuals injured, 
some seriously. Today (November 2), there were more 
incidents, including road blocks and rock throwing at 
vehicles near the French and British Embassies, as well as 
the northern part of the city.  Seyoum reported that a police 
vehicle had been hit by a grenade, injuring several officers. 
If necessary, reinforcements, including the armed forces, 
would be called-in, Seyoum noted.  Seyoum stated that the GOE 
will not let the situation "get out of control." 
 
ADG RAISES CONCERNS 
------------------- 
 
5. (C) Ambassador Huddleston, speaking on behalf of the ADG, 
noted ADG consensus on several key points.  These include: 
 
1) Concern about recent events, including those of November 1 
and 2; 
2) Concern about arrests, particularly those of the CUD 
leadership, which may have stimulated the November 2 
violence; 
3) Regret for all loss of life; 
4) Urging of all parties to engage in a dialogue to diffuse 
tensions; 
5) Calling on the release of detainees and the launch of 
independent investigations on both the June and November 
demonstrations; 
6) Urging of just and timely trials for detainees as soon as 
possible. 
 
She also urged the GOE to be more open in providing space for 
the opposition and for both sides to refrain from violence, 
and stated that the way forward was for all groups to 
participate in the democratic process. 
 
CUD LEADERSHIP WILL FACE TRIAL, MAXIMUM SENTENCES 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
6. (C) Seyoum stated that the GOE will not detain all of the 
CUD leadership;  rather, only those few who are the "worst of 
the worst" have been detained. The focus of the government, 
according to Seyoum, is to bring those extreme elements-- 
including within the opposition leadership and those who have 
played a role in participating in or calling for violence or 
street action-- to justice.   Seyoum said CUD Chairman Hailu 
Shawel and some members of civil society, including members 
of the private media and the Teachers Association, fell into 
this category. Seyoum further noted that a large number of 
rioters had been apprehended (approximately 1,000), but that 
police had started to release them and would focus on those 
cases where there was clear evidence of crimes. 
 
7. (C) Donors urged humanitarian treatment of the detainees, 
including family access to detainees and medical treatment 
(NOTE: Hailu Shawel is a diabetic and was taken to his house 
following his arrrest to pick up his medicines; other 
detainees reportedly received similar treatment.  END NOTE) 
Concern was raised by donors over the apprehension of members 
of civil society, including the private media. Seyoum 
responded that journalists had been arrested under criminal 
laws, not the press law.  Seyoum assured donors that the 
human rights of the detainees would be respected, including 
family member access and medical attention.  Seyoum stated 
firmly that there was only one possibility of release for the 
current detainees: through the courts.  He added that the 
detainees were unlikely to be released soon.  Seyoum told the 
donors that the trials would be fair, but that the government 
would do everything to ensure that the maximum sentence would 
be applied.  Seyoum also indicated that the CUD as an 
organization would be prosecuted, though there were no plans 
to apprehend all members of the opposition leadership at this 
time.  Rather, the GOE was focusing on hard-line elements and 
recognized there were moderate members.  Seyoum also made 
clear that the GOE did not consider those arrested political 
detainees. Seyoum said the GOE could not understand why a 
recent Amnesty International report had characterized them 
that way, but he was confident that the notion would be 
corrected. 
 
DIALOGUE WITH CURRENT CUD LEADERSHIP NOT AN OPTION 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
8. (C) Seyoum stated the issue of dialogue was now a "closed 
chapter."  The GOE, according to Seyoum, had been patient and 
tolerant with the opposition as long as the opposition's 
actions were non-violent. The GOE had hoped that "reason 
would prevail." However, the arrests were necessary to ensure 
peace and security. Seyoum stated that the CUD was probably 
miscalculating in believing that street action will succeed 
in bringing about change.  The absence of the CUD leadership 
can only help the process by removing extremist elements, 
Seyoum added.  Given the particular vulnerabilities of a 
fledgling democracy, this type of leadership "has to go", 
stated Seyoum. 
 
9. (C) Donors urged the GOE to keep an open mind in terms of 
dialogue. The CUD, it was noted, is more than just the 
detained leadership. Seyoum questioned who the GOE would 
dialogue with. When further pressed on the need for dialogue, 
Seyoum did acknowledge that the GOE would be willing to 
dialogue with the opposition, but only with those "committed 
to democratic principals" and who disassociated themselves 
with the current leadership.  A clear distinction was made 
between those currently detained, with whom there would be no 
dialogue, and those more moderate members of the opposition. 
Seyoum also left open the door for working with the 
opposition if the leadership reconstituted itself and took 
its seats. Ambassador Huddleston noted that parliament could 
play a positive role by supporting those opposition members 
who had taken their seats and noted the importance that a 
new, more independent National Election Board (for which the 
Prime Minister is expected to nominate members shortly) could 
play in signaling to the CUD the GOE's willingness to work 
together as partners. 
 
INVESTIGATIONS ON JUNE DEMONSTRATIONS MAY BEGIN 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
10. (C) Seyoum stated that the investigations had been 
delayed due to political considerations. Specifically, there 
had been concern that the political dialogue could be 
threatened if the investigation moved forward since some of 
the CUD leadership would be implicated in the June 
demonstrations.  Now, the GOE was prepared to move forward 
with the June investigation, with the possibility of also 
investigating the November 1-2 incidents. 
 
GOE WILL USE RESTRAINT 
----------------------- 
11. (C) The GOE, Seyoum stressed, did not call for violence, 
but rather responded to the violence in an effort to protect 
the rule of law.  He further stated that the GOE political 
leadership will give guidance to the police to take care, 
spare lives, and minimize violence.  They know the cannot be 
trigger happy, he noted. Understanding from the donors is 
essential, added Seyoum, stating that the GOE would be 
surprised if they implicated the government in the violence. 
HUDDLESTON