VZCZCXRO8584
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #1246/01 2251000
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131000Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9752
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1867
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0966
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0569

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001246 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARP, GTIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TIP KU
SUBJECT: FILIPINO ENVOY RESEARCHING TRAFFICKING 
ALLEGATIONS/POSSIBLE MOVE OF EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  On August 7, a Filipino Presidential Envoy 
visited Post as part of a fact-finding mission in the 
investigation of reports of Filipino citizens being 
trafficked by a Kuwaiti firm into Iraq to build the new 
American Embassy.  According to the delegation, the Kuwaiti 
firm is cooperating conditionally, offering them 
transportation to Iraq contingent upon State Department 
permission.  While in Baghdad, the delegation plans to 
interview alleged trafficking victims and assess a new site 
for the Filipino Embassy.  End Summary. 
 
Filipino Presidential Envoy visits Post 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On August 7 Ambassador Roy A. Cimatu, Special Envoy 
to the Middle East from the Office of the President of the 
Philippines met with Charge to discuss ongoing investigations 
of whether or not Filipino workers were trafficked to Baghdad 
to work at the New American Embassy Compound.  Ambassador 
Cimatu was aware of and agreed with the conclusions of the 
April 30, 2007 DOS Inspector General's Memorandum disputing 
trafficking allegations and remarked on the "untruthfulness 
of the allegations."  He stated that the purpose of the visit 
to Post was to obtain "State Department permission" for 
travel to Baghdad and access to some 51 Filipino construction 
workers in Baghdad alleged to have been trafficked by First 
Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting Co.  According to the 
delegation, the allegations of trafficking came from Rory 
James Mayberry, a former medic of the Kuwait-based company 
who allegedly accompanied the Filipino workers on a flight 
from Kuwait to Baghdad o/a March 23, 2006.  The delegation 
consisted of the Filipino Ambassadors to Kuwait City and 
Amman, as well as the CDA, Labor Officer and other members of 
the local embassy staff. 
 
Filipino action plan 
--------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Cimatu said that he will seek to obtain the flight 
manifest from First Kuwaiti of the names of the 51 Filipinos 
who Mayberry allegedly flew with o/a March 23, 2006.  He then 
hopes to travel with approximately six other individuals to 
Baghdad to meet with the 51 workers and to conduct an 
investigation similar to the one conducted by the Inspector 
General.  His goal is to meet with specific individuals and 
determine whether or not they were deceived or forcibly taken 
to Iraq, as alleged. 
 
Cooperation from First Kuwaiti? 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) According to Cimatu and Filipino Ambassador to 
Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya, First Kuwaiti offered to the 
delegationtransportation to Baghdad contingent upon receiving 
"State Department permission" for the visit.  Cimatu and 
Endaya suspect that First Kuwaiti is not sincere in its offer 
and is actually trying to impede their investigation by 
creating bureaucratic hurdles.  The Filipino delegation also 
requested USG security protection from Baghdad airport to the 
Green Zone.  Post's Management Section is coordinating with 
Embassy Baghdad and the NEA Bureau. 
 
Plans to move Embassy of the Philippines in Baghdad 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) While in Baghdad, the CDA accredited to Iraq, 
Wilfredo R. Cuyugan (currently posted in Amman), plans to 
make a site assessment and possible recommendation to move 
the Embassy of the Philippines from the Red Zone into the 
Green Zone. 
 
 
 
 
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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
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KUWAIT 00001246  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER