VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLU #0175/01 0541213
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 231213Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3739

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF FRAZER AND THOMPSON AND AF/S; DRL FOR LOWENKRON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA: EVENTS SURROUNDING DETENTION OF GLOBAL 
WITNESS ACTIVIST DR. SARAH WYKES 
 
REF: LUANDA 172 
 
Classified By: Amb. Cynthia Efird for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) With reference to the arrest and detention of Dr. 
Sarah Wykes, of the Global Witness NGO, Embassy Luanda has 
compiled the following chronological outline of events, which 
we hope will present the facts and clear up some 
misperceptions of the train of events. 
 
¶2. (C) Chronology of Events: 
 
Wednesday February 14, 2007 
 
-- Dr. Sara Wykes meets with Ambassador and DCM, US Embassy 
Luanda 
 
Friday, February 16, 2007 
 
-- Dr. Wykes travels to Cabinda 
 
Saturday, February 17, 2007 
 
PM 
--  Dr. Sarah Wykes, accompanied by local activists and 
former members of the group Mpalabanda, visits and 
photographs social projects in Cabinda which were 
constructed/carried out with oil revenue money.  Note: It is 
illegal in Angola to photograph government buildings 
according to law.  In addition, according to the August 2006 
Memorandum of Peace and Understanding (MOU) for Cabinda, 
Mpalabanda was declared an unregistered political entity and 
was ordered to disband.  Mpalabanda refuses to accept the 
2006 MOU and has publicly disassociated itself from the 
umbrella organization to which it had previously belonged 
that negotiated the deal.  End note. 
 
Dr. Wykes is questioned by police in Cabinda for about 30 
minutes. 
 
Sunday, February 18, 2007 
 
5:30 AM -- Police arrive at Dr. Wykes, hotel room to 
question her.  She calls a well-known Angolan human rights 
lawyer, David Mendes, who had traveled to Cabinda with her 
for advice.  Upon his arrival, she opens the door to the 
police. 
 
--  Dr. Wykes taken to Police Station; camera is seized by 
police. 
 
PM 
8:30 PM  -- British Ambassador calls Ambassador Efird 
 
-- Ambassador Efird calls Vice Minister of External 
Relations, Jorge Chicoty, to advise him on the situation and 
international interest in the situation.  Amb. Efird requests 
his intervention in securing her immediate release. 
 
Monday, February 19, 2007 
 
AM 
9:20  -- Ambassador Efird intervenes with US company to 
secure transport to Cabinda for British Consular Officer 
 
-- Dr. Wykes arraigned and bail figure estimate released ) 
18,000 kwanza (approximately 2,250 USD). 
 
PM 
 -- British Embassy and US Embassy consult throughout the 
day; US Embassy also offers help in logistical arrangements 
to transfer bail money from Luanda to Cabinda. 
 
-- British Consul arrives in Cabinda and is granted immediate 
consular access to Dr. Wykes 
 
-- British Embassy, while responding to early radio 
interviews, has not issued press statements due to the fact 
that this is a consular case. 
 
 
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 ) Angolan National Holiday 
 
-- Banks closed due to national holiday.  Thus, bail can not 
be deposited nor can subsequent paperwork be completed. 
 
-- Dr. Wykes remains in jail in cell with one other detainee. 
 Local human rights activists request, and are accorded, as a 
courtesy, the ability to monitor her treatment from an 
adjoining cell. 
 
-- British Consul returns to Luanda 
 
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 
 
13:30 -- Dr. Wykes released from jail in Cabinda. 
 
-- Passport returned to Dr. Wykes 
 
-- US Embassy personnel in direct contact with British 
Embassy throughout the day and meet with British DCM for a 
debrief of the situation 
 
Thursday, February 22, 2007 
 
AM 
--    Faxed letter from Senators Leahy et al arrives Embassy 
Luanda with a cover letter to Ambassador Efird praising 
Embassy Luanda's interventions and requesting that their 
letter of concern be forwarded to President dos Santos. 
 
-- Diplomatic Notes 030 and 031 delivered to the MIREX for 
transmission to the President and Attorney General per 
Senator Leahy,s request 
 
PM 
-- Dr. Wykes meets with Cabindan Attorney General 
 
-- Attorney David Mendes travels to Luanda to submit papers 
requesting permission for Dr. Wykes to respond to the court 
proceedings in Cabinda from outside the province.  This would 
allow for her to leave Cabinda and Angola. 
 
-- British DCM advises Embassy that he has spoken to Dr. 
Wykes at least six times during the day and that she is in 
good health, calm, and in the company of colleagues from the 
Open Society Institute.  British DCM also tells Embassy that 
he has spoken to Dr. Wykes, lawyer who feels confident that 
she will be granted the permission to leave Cabinda and 
arrive in Luanda on Friday, February 23, 2007. 
 
Friday, February 23, 2007 
 
AM 
-- David Mendes, Dr. Wykes, lawyer, tells emboffs that he 
has consulted with the Angolan Attorney General and 
understands that the paperwork granting permission for Dr. 
Wykes, to respond to court proceedings has been signed and 
is awaiting release.  This paperwork would allow Dr. Wykes to 
leave Cabinda and Angola 
 
PM 
-- British Ambassador during his periodic calls updating 
Ambassador Efird is less sanguine.  They coordinate a 
strategy of political contacts in Luanda, with the British 
Ambassador making official calls and the US Ambassador 
reinforcing the message informally at an Angolan military 
reception for the USS Kauffman on Friday evening and with 
private phone calls on Saturday and Sunday, if Dr. Wykes must 
remain in the hotel in Cabinda, unable to travel to Luanda. 
 
End Chronology of Events. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Embassy will notify Washington if additional support 
is needed over the weekend. 
EFIRD