US embassy cable - 05ADDISABABA3780

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 003780 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME PARIS LONDON FOR AF WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KDEM, ET, AF UNION, UNREST 
SUBJECT: AU COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON, UK, AND EU SHARE 
CONCERNS ABOUT ETHIOPIA'S DOMESTIC UNREST 
 
REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3757 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. ADDIS ABABA 3748 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON.  REASON: 1.4 (B, D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  On the second consecutive day of a 
government crackdown on opposition demonstrators in Addis 
Ababa, AU Commission Chairperson Konare expressed concern 
about the safety of AU staff and of Ethiopia's ability to 
weather both domestic unrest and growing tensions with 
Eritrea.  Perhaps because of armed patrols and gunfire near 
AU headquarters, Konare appears to be more seized with 
quelling violence in Addis Ababa than addressing the border 
issue.  Konare issued a public statement on November 2 
calling for restraint, and met privately with Prime Minister 
Meles Zenawi on November 3.  Konare advocates a coordinated 
approach by international leaders to PM Meles, and shares 
many of the concerns expressed by the US and UK in a November 
2 meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum (ref A). 
Konare told U.S., UK, and EU representatives that he supports 
the release of demonstrators and was critical of Meles' 
failure to negotiate with the opposition; however, Konare 
also wishes to be seen as "helpful" and will therefore seek 
to preserve his neutrality.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) African Union Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar 
Konare summoned U.S., UK, and EU (troika) heads of mission to 
AU headquarters in the late afternoon of November 2, the 
second consecutive day of violent confrontations in Addis 
Ababa between Ethiopian military and security forces, on the 
one hand, and predominantly unarmed demonstrators protesting 
the Government's November 1 arrests (ref B) of senior 
opposition leaders from the Coalition for Unity and Democracy 
(CUD) party.  Poloffs attended for Charge, who was meeting 
separately with Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi (ref A). 
3. (C) Konare expressed concern about the deteriorating 
internal situation in Addis Ababa, saying that he had 
received reports of casualties, but lacked the means to 
verify them.  Recognizing the special role played in Ethiopia 
by the troika, he said he welcomed any information that could 
be shared with the AU.  The AU needed an early warning system 
and non-traditional means of intervention to address such 
situations, he said.  He also expressed concern about the 
safety of AU staff.  (NOTE: Automatic weapons fire was 
reported earlier in the day at the Pushkin Square area, near 
AU Headquarters, leading to the cancellation of several 
meetings of the AU's Darfur Integrated Task Force.  At dusk 
on November 2, armored personnel carriers believed to be 
carrying special "Agazzi" military units from PM Meles's home 
region of Tigray continued to roll past AU headquarters.  END 
NOTE.)  Konare condemned the GOE firing on unarmed 
demonstrators, and observed that the GOE could not address 
both the deterioration of its internal situation and rising 
tensions with Eritrea.  The suggestion of war, as well as 
Ethiopia's current domestic disturbances, threatened to 
undermine the AU: "Every shot fired is a shot fired against 
the AU," he said.  Underscoring the need to "stop 
repression," he said problems arose when a country could not 
guarantee democracy. 
 
4. (C) Saying that the AU's position was not easily 
expressed, and that the populace mistook the AU's silence for 
inaction, Konare noted that he would issue a public statement 
(text follows below); personally intervene with PM Meles, as 
he had previously; and seek permission to see opposition 
leaders.  UK ambassador provided Konare with draft 
Ambassadors Donors Group (ADG) statement of which the U.S. is 
President and endorsed by all EU heads of mission.  Konare 
agreed with the need to promote dialogue instead of violent 
confrontation.  (NOTE: Charge updated Konare on the current 
situation in Addis Ababa and on the border with Eritrea, just 
prior to a November 3 meeting between Konare and Meles.  END 
NOTE.) 
 
---------------------------- 
UK OUTLINES DONORS CONCERNS 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (C) UK Ambassador Bob Dewar informed Konare that ADG 
members were trying to facilitate dialogue.  The origins of 
the rioting were unclear, he said, but the GOE blamed the CUD 
for instigating them.  Spontaneous demonstrations had erupted 
on November 1 and 2.  One could assume that the arrest of 
senior opposition leaders (ref B) had provoked further 
problems on November 2, Dewar added.  He noted that the UK 
had warned its citizens to avoid conflict areas and to defer 
non-essential travel to Ethiopia.  As for the border issue, 
Amb. Dewar noted the GOE's concern that the draft UNSC 
resolution on UNMEE not include language imposing demarcation 
with dialogue. 
6. (C) Amb. Dewar provided Konare with a readout of the ADG 
meeting held earlier in the day with FM Seyoum (ref A). 
Dewar said that Charge Huddleston and he had highlighted the 
following points see reftel, which he would also recommend be 
made by London to PM Meles: 
-- deep concern at reports of up to 40 deaths; the use of 
lethal means, by either demonstrators or security forces, 
should play no part in a democracy; 
-- the urgent need for an independent investigation of the 
incidents of June 8 (during which several dozen protestors 
were killed in post-election violence in Addis Ababa); 
-- concern at the arrests of CUD leaders and members of civil 
society, including independent teachers' and press 
associations; 
-- the need for the GOE to release political detainees; 
-- the importance of following legal process, including 
providing those detained with access to family visits and 
medicines; 
-- the need for maximum restraint and dialogue; all sides 
should be encouraged to avoid violence, respect the 
constitution, and participate fully in democratic 
institutions. 
-- the need to continue the dialogue on how to establish 
multi-party democracy. 
 
7. (C) EU Head of Delegation Amb. Tim Clark underscored the 
need for a strong gesture on  PM Meles, in order "to avoid a 
conflagration."  Amb. Clark said that despite promises from 
Meles, "nothing has been done" in three key areas: 
appointment of an independent national election board; 
permitting comparative assessments to be conducted of 
Ethiopia's parliamentary procedures with those of four other 
countries; and ending the "daily harassment" of opposition 
supporters.  The GOE had conducted mass arrests of more than 
1,000 individuals during the demonstrations and earlier when 
motorists had honked their car horns as part of a series of 
civil disobedience gestures called for by the CUD/P. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
AU CHAIRPERSON ADVOCATES COORDINATED MESSAGE TO MELES 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
8. (C) Konare observed that the international community needs 
to send coordinated message to Meles, from "the highest 
levels."  Meles does not understand the need to negotiate, he 
said, adding that most African countries appointed national 
election board members by consensus.  Meles could have 
benefited from a divided opposition, but instead had become 
"another cause of opposition within his own party."  The 
opposition would likely appoint new leaders to replace those 
detained, he said, which would only prolong the standoff. 
 
9. (C) Konare said the GOE should release detainees and 
promote dialogue.  Other countries arrested protesters, he 
said, but also sought political solutions.  Long imprisonment 
would only make them "martyrs".  As the majority of the 
populace in Addis Ababa supported the opposition, 
marginalizing them "could create terrorists".  Konare 
asserted that the majority of victims in Merkato Square 
killings on November 1 were Muslims, and warned of protests 
continuing, as Muslims gathered to mark the end of Ramadan. 
(Muslim celebrations passed peacefully but security forces 
have been carrying out arbitrary detentions of individuals in 
their homes, following the two days of protests.) 
 
10. (C) Konare concluded that he wanted to be "helpful", and 
would therefore seek to preserve his neutrality, while 
privately pressuring Meles. 
 
11. (U) Text of AU Commission's communique released on 
November 2 (forwarded to AF/E and AF/PD), follows below: 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
The Chairperson of the AU Commission expresses his deep 
concern over the incidents which occurred yesterday, in some 
parts of Addis Ababa, resulting in the death of several 
protestors and Police Officers and wounding of many others. 
He is further concerned over the incidents which took place 
today in some parts of the city with reported loss of lives 
and injuries. 
 
The Chairperson deplores the upsurge in confrontation and 
violence between the Security Forces and protestors in 
circumstances yet to be clarified.  He further deplores the 
loss of lives and passes his heartfelt condolences to the 
bereaved families. 
 
The Chairperson appeals to all concerned for calm and maximum 
restraint and urges them to commit themselves to addressing 
existing problems through peaceful means and dialogue within 
the framework of the Constitution and the law of the country. 
 
He wishes to stress that the people of Africa are looking 
forward with a keen sense of solidarity for the people of 
Ethiopia and their leaders to overcome the current 
difficulties through peaceful means and dialogue and give our 
continent an example of democracy. 
 
Addis Ababa, 2 November 2005 
 
 
HUDDLESTON