Cablegate: Three Sudanese Gov't Workers Killed in Zalingei Idp Camp

VZCZCXRO0818
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1794 2061707
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251707Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3895
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001794

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN GROUP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU
SUBJECT: Three Sudanese Gov't Workers Killed in Zalingei IDP Camp

1. (SBU) On July 20, IDPs in Hassa Hissa internally displaced
persons (IDP) camp in Zalingei (Sector 7) beat to death three
government workers (Note: press coverage often referred to them as
aid or humanitarian workers. End note.) The IDPs suspected
Sudanese government Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES)
employees of poisoning water sources; the workers were actually
conducting routine checks of chlorination levels of the water. A
total of 15 WES, UNICEF, and INGO staff present were present at the
time. Embassy Pol/Econ local staff reported press accounts offering
a slightly different version of the story, wherein the employees
were suspected of tampering with water supplies, and were killed
after they refused to drink the water to demonstrate that it was
safe. Distrust of government employees associated with local NGOs
appears to underlie the violence; tensions remain high within the
camp. The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has suspended aid
activities in Hassa Hissa, but has announced its readiness to resume
services once security conditions permit.

2. (U) On July 25, the Office of the Spokesperson of UNMIS released
a statement by Special Representative Pronk that condemned the
killings and noted the effective partnership between the Water and
Environment Sanitation agency and UNICEF in providing safe drinking
water to conflict-affected persons in Darfur.

3. (SBU) In another incident, on July 22, IDPs in Kamasa Dagai IDP
camp killed a teacher who was suspected of trying to poison a child
with a vaccine. Also on July 22, a government police officer was
beaten to death by IDPs in Hamadiya camp. Currently, there are no
NGOs operational in any of these three Zalingei-area camps. UNICEF
has reported the government may withhdraw all WES staff from areas
controlled by non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

STEINFELD

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