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Cablegate: Pakistani Response to Camel Jockey Conference In

VZCZCXRO0991
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHIL #2889 1831236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021236Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0194
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 3430
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2158
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0019
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 0022
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 1604

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002889

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR L/DL KRISTINA DAUGIRDAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KCRM AE SU BG MR PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI RESPONSE TO CAMEL JOCKEY CONFERENCE IN
UAE, JUNE 26-27

REF: STATE 86406

1. SUMMARY: Poloff met with Khizar Hayat Khan, Joint
Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, a GOP participant at

SIPDIS
the UAE-hosted Camel Jockey conference in Abu Dhabi, June
26-27. Khan is preparing a longer analysis of the GOP's
expectations from the bilateral MOU for his Minister and
promised to share it with us later this week. Currently,
however, the GOP seems quite satisfied with the proposals and
framework developed with the UAE regarding
compensation/rehabilitation of the Pakistani children freed
from servitude as camel jockeys in the UAE. Response to
specific questions detailed in reftel follow. END SUMMARY.

2.a) Does your government expect all former child camel
jockeys to use the compensation process established by the
MOU? Yes, but the GOP foresees a process that involves
rehabilitation as well as compensation -- something with a
longer-term impact on the child, the family and even the
community.

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b) If a former child camel jockey does not pursue
compensation through the MOU claims process, does the MOU
permit the child or his parents instead to seek compensation
in your country's courts? In the courts of the UAE? In the
courts of third countries, including the United States? The
GOP will allow those who do not wish to pursue compensation
under the MOU to appeal directly to the Secretary of the
Ministry of Interior for relief. Failing that, they may
register a case in the Pakistani court system.

c) If a former child camel jockey requests but is denied
compensation through the MOU claims process, does the MOU
permit the child or his parents then to seek compensation in
your country's courts? In the courts of the UAE? In the
courts of third countries, including the United States? The
same process as above will prevail, appeal to the Secretary
of the Ministry, then registration of a court case in
Pakistan.

d) If a former child camel jockey requests and receives
compensation that he or his parents believe is inadequate,
does the MOU permit the child or his parents then to seek
additional compensation in your country's courts? In the
courts of the UAE? In courts of third countries, including
the United States? Same process -- appeal to the Secretary of
the Ministry, followed by a court case in Pakistan.

e) If the claims facility does not in fact operate in
accordance with the MOU, will court actions that would
otherwise be barred by the MOU become permissible? Yes, if
the facility fails to operate as envisioned in the MOU, the
government of Pakistan reserves the option of initiating
court action (on behalf of the children) against the UAE in
Pakistani courts or at an international forum.

f) What steps is your government taking to ensure that the
child camel jockeys (and their parents) are aware of the
claims process and to facilitate the filing of claims? In
addition to media (radio, television and print) campaigns,
the GOP will request local religious and social leaders in
the affected areas to strongly promote the process. The GOP
will create mobile teams to visit the areas where the camel
jockeys were recruited to explain the claims process and help
process claims. The GOP already has a list of several
hundred child jockeys repatriated from the UAE in the past
few years, so they know the general magnitude of the problem
at hand.

g) Would a lawsuit in the United States seeking compensation
for former child camel jockeys have any impact on the
implementation of the claims facility or of the UAE-UNICEF
program in your country? It would be difficult to say at
present. Such a move could complicate the MOU process and
may slow down the compensation/rehabilitation process.
PATTERSON

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