Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05MANILA1961, COTABATO MAYOR PROTESTS USAID PROJECT SUSPENSION

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05MANILA1961.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05MANILA1961 2005-04-29 10:55 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Manila
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 001961 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP, USIP - SOLOMON 
NSC FOR GREEN 
SEOUL FOR ERIC JOHN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER EAID KISL PINS ASEC CASC RP
SUBJECT: COTABATO MAYOR PROTESTS USAID PROJECT SUSPENSION 
 
REF: 04 MANILA 5141 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (SBU) Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema has attempted to 
instigate a local media and public outcry against the US, and 
specifically USAID activities in his municipality.  His 
agitation is in response to a letter from USAID Mission 
Director Yates, at the direction of Ambassador, informing the 
Mayor that a USAID-funded road project will be suspended 
following information indicating international financiers, 
affiliated with terrorist elements, have been traversing 
Cotabato "repeatedly" with his knowledge and support (full 
text in Para 4).  Sema has engineered an angry unsigned 
letter faxed to USAID's largest contractor in Mindanao on 
April 28, and a street protest of 2,000-3,000 in Cotabato 
City on April 29.  The mayor had responded positively when we 
had raised such reports with him in the past.  We are keeping 
communication channels open to the mayor, and allowing him 
space to retreat and once again address our concerns at the 
ability of terrorists and terrorist financiers to transit 
Cotabato with his apparent connivance.  USAID maintains many 
other projects in Cotabato and throughout Mindanao.  We 
continue to stress that communities and leaders willing to 
work against terrorism will reap the benefits of peace and US 
assistance, while those making the wrong choice will lose 
international development assistance to improve the quality 
of life in their jurisdictions.  We consider the current 
travel warning as sufficient but will continue to monitor the 
Cotabato security situation throughout the weekend.  End 
Summary. 
 
Background To the Case 
---------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) Cotabato City, population 241,000, is 800 miles 
southeast of Manila.  The city lies on a river delta on 
Mindanao's western mainland edge.  The city's inhabitants are 
roughly half Muslim and half Christian.  USAID has several 
successful projects, administered through the contract Growth 
Equity in Mindanao (GEM) and other programs in Cotabato. 
Mission has offered a particular incentive to Cotabato Mayor 
Muslimin Sema over the past year to deny Cotabato City as a 
transit and logistics hub for transnational terrorists.  At 
times, he has made a show of cooperating with law enforcement 
and military authorities.  Several terrorists have been 
arrested in Cotabato City, which is near the isolated 
Liguasan Marsh -- home base of several troublesome Moro 
Islamic Liberation Front "base commands" and a preferred 
sanctuary of Jemmah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group 
terrorists. 
 
3.  (SBU) As reported in reftel, we have maintained a 
transparent and no-nonsense relationship with Mayor Sema 
regarding USAID development assistance, making sure he 
understood that projects can not be approved and implemented 
where terrorists are allowed to operate.  Immediately at 
issue is a USD 1 million grant for a bypass road, a 
desperately needed thoroughfare for traffic-plagued Cotabato. 
 This is a handsome political plum for the mayor who could 
use the project to help legitimize his contested election. 
Upon confronting the mayor over alleged terror suspects 
operating in Cotabato last October, he sprang into action 
calling local security authorities to pursue and deny 
Cotabato City as a welcoming place for terrorism. 
 
4.  (SBU) In February, in response to Sema's apparent 
improved cooperation and the improved security climate, 
Ambassador publicly announced in Cotabato, with Sema at his 
side, that the bypass road could move forward.  Recent 
classified reporting indicates, however, that Sema has met 
with suspected foreign terrorist financiers.  As a result, 
USAID Mission Director -- in a private letter dated April 25 
-- stressed to Mayor Sema... 
 
Begin Full Text: 
 
I very much regret that we continue to receive information 
that international financiers, affiliated with terrorist 
elements, are traversing Cotabato, reputedly with your 
knowledge and support. 
 
Given these developments, the United States is constrained to 
suspend all work on the Cotabato bypass road, effective 
immediately. 
 
Ambassador Ricciardone and I will be in Cotabato City briefly 
this week and would be available to discuss this matter with 
you personally, should you desire. 
 
Cordially, 
 
Michael Yates, USAID Mission Director 
 
End Full Text. 
 
 
While visiting Cotabato to open more USAID education projects 
in the area on April 28, Ambassador spoke with Mayor Sema via 
telephone to discuss the same concerns spelled out in the 
letter. 
 
Recent Flare Up 
--------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) Sema immediately went public with the substance of 
the letter and has been attempting to stoke public resentment 
against the Ambassador, USAID, and the US Government. 
Several local radio and TV outlets have interviewed Mayor 
Sema, who is portraying himself as a victim.  Call-in shows 
have reportedly broadcast anti-US diatribes.  The local GEM 
office received via fax an unsigned "open letter" addressed 
to Ambassador and "all USAID officers and employees."  The 
document condemned USAID and Ambassador for "devilish 
insinuations" against Cotabato City and the mayor.  The 
letter characterizes the Ambassador and "his flocks of 
employees" as "lackeys," and vows the "rejection of all USAID 
projects in this homeland."  (Note: We have not received any 
direct threats of physical harm against US citizens or 
interests, and national media have not picked up the story as 
of late on April 29.  End Note.) 
 
6.  (SBU) There are reports on April 29 of a small-scale 
public protest in Cotabato City of up to 2,000-3,000 people. 
So far there are no signs of public reaction outside Sema's 
jurisdiction.  We are in close touch with Secretary Jesus 
Dureza, the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, who is 
following the situation.  GEM's host-national staff are 
monitoring the situation throughout Mindanao.  They currently 
plan to continue normal business operations, but project 
staff located in Cotabato closed the office early on April 29. 
 
Sema Wants Apology and Disclosure 
--------------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) Poloff contacted Mayor Sema to suggest that he can 
best resolve our concerns through direct communication, and 
appropriate cooperation on his part with GRP authorities when 
any foreigners transit Cotabato for less than transparently 
legitimate purposes -- as the Ambassador had recommended on 
April 28.  Sema said he had taken offense at the allegations, 
and that meeting people is part of his job as mayor.  He said 
the police and the "national intelligence authorities" should 
have informed him of such allegations.  He claimed it is not 
his responsibility to report details of his foreign contacts 
to national authorities.  Sema is pushing for disclosure of 
the suspected terrorists' names to clear the issue once and 
for all.  He also is demanding an apology. 
 
Mission Reaction And Comment: 
----------------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) It is not yet clear whether Sema's agitation is 
producing the support he evidently seeks.  For now, any 
public backlash appears limited and Sema does not seem to be 
interested in a quieter, more effective resolution of the 
issue.  The road suspension, while a sizeable loss, is a very 
small percentage of the entire scope of USAID assistance in 
Mindanao.  Other GEM projects remain ongoing in Cotabato and 
elsewhere in Mindanao.  Sema has proven to be a useful 
partner in the past.  We are keeping lines open to him and 
leaving him room to retreat.  His posturing to the media is a 
standard political tool in Mindanao and throughout the 
Philippines.  We continue to reiterate publicly and privately 
that our assistance programs will benefit only those who are 
committed to peace, prosperity, and eradicating terrorism. 
9.  (SBU) Mission considers the current national travel 
warning as sufficient but will continue to monitor the 
security situation in Cotabato throughout the weekend. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
Ricciardone