SECTION 108 AMERICANS INCARCERATED ABROAD-CALENDAR YEAR 1978 During the past year, the Bureau of Consular Affairs completed an exhaustive internal analysis of its operations and functions, resulting in a reorganization which has greatly strengthened the Bureau's capabilities to provide the highest quality of services to Americans traveling or residing abroad and has enhanced its leadership role in providing guidance and support to United States consular officers abroad. One of the innovations resulting from the reorganization is the creation of the Citizens Emergency Center in Overseas Citizens Services. This Center, which includes among its organization the Arrest Unit, is dedicated to assisting Americans who encounter emergencies abroad. The Bureau has been active in attempting to educate the American public on the "do's" and "don'ts" for conducting themselves abroad. A number of radio public service announcements warning against drug abuse abroad were produced and distributed to some 1,600 commercial radio stations (including Spanish language stations) throughout the country. Senior officers of the Bureau conducted over 100 television and radio "open line" interviews with local stations across the country in an effort to warn against the dangers of drug abuse abroad. During the spring, the Bureau hosted a national conference in an effort to increase public awareness of consular services in general and to enhance cooperation between the Department and the travel industry in serving the American traveler abroad. This "Conference on the American International Traveller" was attended by officials from the media and the travel industry. The Bureau has continued its efforts to improve training of consular officers through the Foreign Service Institute ("Consulate General" Rosslyn) and other training media. At Regional Consular Conferences, and through other means, it has provided United States Foreign Service posts with clear and more precise guidelines on various aspects of consular work, including protection and assistance to Americans detained abroad. The Treaty on transfer of penal sanctions with Mexico has now been in force for a full year and 321 Americans convicted of crimes in Mexico have been returned to the United States under its provisions. Another important humanitarian milestone was the return of four imprisoned Americans from Mexico who were not convicted but were determined by medical authorities in Mexico to be mentally incompetent and not responsible for their actions. The exchange treaty with Bolivia, also a year old, has resulted in the return of 7 Americans. These transfers, coupled with the efforts. made by the United States Embassy in La Paz to push for deportation media outreach programs were conducted by the Consular Affairs Bureau during the spring and summer months. The third segment, entitled "Charges Report" indicates the types of crimes Americans were charged with last year and their frequency of occurrence. As mentioned above, narcotics violations constitute the largest single charge filed against Americans. There were some noticeable decreases in charges such as robbery, rape, espionage, smuggling and terrorism, which were in turn offset by increases in assault, contraband (primarily alcohol in Moslem countries), customs violations, serious traffic violations and vagrancy. The fourth segment, entitled "Drug Charges Reports," provides an in-depth look at the categories of drug violations and the types of drugs involved. Marijuana remains the illegal substance most frequently involved in narcotics arrests abroad, 58 percent of all drug arrests in 1978. Additionally, of this number, over 38 percent involved less than one ounce of marijuana or cannabis. The Department has been making every effort to communicate this information to potential travelers, particularly younger travelers, who have the misconception that drug laws abroad are easier or not as rigidly enforced as they are in the United States. While drug-related arrests occurred in 70 countries around the world, the top five countries continued to be the Bahamas, Mexico, The Federal Republic of Germany, The Dominican Republic and Canada. Well over half (57 percent) of the drug charges brought against Americans occurred in these five countries and 91 percent of all the drug-related charges are concentrated in only 10 countries. Another serious problem is the relatively large volume of arrests occurring in three Caribbean countries-The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic and Jamaica. These three countries accounted for 568 arrests in 1978 or about 20 percent of the total number of arrests of Amercians abroad in that year, a 6 percent increase over 1977. Most of these arrests were drug-related (76 percent) and 50 percent of these drugrelated arrests were for the possession or consumption of less than one ounce of marijuana. The fifth segment, entitled "Mistreatment Report" attempts to place some numerical perspective on the problems of mistreatment of prisoners. The Department is happy to report that incidents of mistreatment, both alleged and confirmed, decreased about 5 percent from last year. Of particular significance is the fact that instances of confirmed inistreatment, that is, those cases where consular officers were able to verify mistreatment from physical observation, medical reports, eyewitness accounts or host government investigations, decreased by over 60 percent from the 1977 estimates. As a case in point: in Mexico, where historically the largest number of mistreatment reports, both alleged and confirmed, originated, the number of confirmed cases of mistreatment during 1978 was only one-third of the 1977 figure. Most instances of mistreatment occur during the arrest and interrogation stages (83 percent) as opposed to the later detention stages. For this reason, the Department continues to push for prompt notification by arresting officials, and for immediate access to American arrestees by consular officers. It should be emphasized that this segment includes psychological harassment, as well as physical abuse, as mistreatment, and also con reach programs were conducted by the Consular Affairs ring the spring and summer months. ird segment, entitled "Charges Report" indicates the types of ericans were charged with last year and their frequency of ce. As mentioned above, narcotics violations constitute the ngle charge filed against Americans. There were some notice eases in charges such as robbery, rape, espionage, smuggling rism, which were in turn offset by increases in assault, coprimarily alcohol in Moslem countries), customs violation the violations and vagrancy. rth segment, entitled "Drug Charges Reports." provides a ook at the categories of drug violations and the types of olved. Marijuana remains the illegal substance most fr volved in narcotics arrests abroad, 58 percent of all drug 978. Additionally, of this number, over 38 percent involve e ounce of marijuana or cannabis. The Department has bee ery effort to communicate this information to potential articularly younger travelers, who have the misconception ws abroad are easier or not as rigidly enforced as they are d States. ug-related arrests occurred in 70 countries around the op five countries continued to be the Bahamas, Mexi 1 Republic of Germany, The Dominican Republic and -ll over half (57 percent) of the drug charges broug -ricans occurred in these five countries and 91 percent of related charges are concentrated in only 10 countries. An problem is the relatively large volume of arrests our e Caribbean countries-The Bahamas, The Dominica Jamaica. These three countries accounted for 568 arrests out 20 percent of the total number of arrests of Amercians at year, a 6 percent increase over 1977. Most of these Irug-related (76 percent) and 50 percent of these drug were for the possession or consumption of less than ore uana. ment, entitled "Mistreatment Report" attempts to pla al perspective on the problems of mistreatment of pris partment is happy to report that incidents of mistreat ged and confirmed, decreased about 5 percent from last ular significance is the fact that instances of confirmed hat is, those cases where consular officers were able to ment from physical observation, medical reports, ere s or host government investigations, decreased by over n the 1977 estimates. As a case in point: in Mexico. lly the largest number of mistreatment reports, both firmed, originated, the number of confirmed cases of ring 1978 was only one-third of the 1977 figure. s of mistreatment occur during the arrest and inter(83 percent) as opposed to the later detention stages, the Department continues to push for prompt notifi ing officials, and for immediate access to American ular officers. mphasized that this segment includes psychologica! ell as physical abuse, as mistreatment, and also con 5 siders refusal on the part of incarcerating officials to notify or permit ASSESSMENT OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO AMERICAN CITIZENS To provide a meaningful assessment of the assistance rendered by embassy and consulate personnel to American citizens incarcerated in foreign countries, the Inspector General of the Department has been requested to provide a special evaluation of these services in regularly scheduled inspections of overseas posts. The Inspectors also evaluate the performance of the consular section and of the senior management of each post. The Office of the Inspector General reviewed the reports of 27 inspection trips conducted during calendar year 1978 (involving 85 Missions. 57 Consulates/Consulates General, five Consular Agencies, two Branches of Embassy, two Interests Sections and one detached Conular Office), for the purpose of assessing the performance of these posts in providing assistance to American citizens imprisoned abroad. During the periods of the inspections the Inspectors found American citizens incarcerated in 45 Consular Districts. Appropriate servlees were being rendered to these American citizens in 44 of the 45 districts; only in the case of the Consulate at Isfahan, Iran did the Inspectors recommend that the Consular Officers increase the rate of their visits to a monthly basis. The Inspectors noted that all posts were visited on a monthly or more frequent basis, with the exception of London, Reykjavik and Goteborg, Sweden; they recommended the latter two posts increase the rate of visits to a monthly basis; however, these recommendations were due to the regulations then in force, not to any belief that the lesser frequency was inappropriate. Inspectors recommended that Consular personnel at Bombay be more aggressive in seeking out information on American citizens arrested in the State of Goa (which does not automatically notify the Consulate General). They also instructed the Consular Sections at Addis Ababa. Hamilton and Isfahan to report on arrested American citizens as prescribed. Generally, the Inspectors found during calendar year 1978 that all Consular personnel were well aware of requirements concerning American citizens imprisoned in their areas, and had commendably good attitudes toward meeting their responsibilities. The Inspectors remarked especially on the performance of personnel in Addis Ababa and Benin, where local authorities are generally uncooperative, and in Chad, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria (Kaduna), Panama, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Zambia, where local bureaucratic practices sometimes result in delay of notifications of arrests. Other posts singled out for special commendation in regard to services to prisoners were Cameroon, Denmark, Greece, Iran (Tabriz), Italy (Naples), Liberia, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan (LaLore), Seychelles, United Kingdom (Belfast and Edinburgh) and Venezuela (Caracas). 6 The Inspectors noted that Consular Conventions are being negotiated with Botswana, Lesotho and Turkey. They recommended also exploring the possibility of Consular Conventions with Colombia, Liberia, Nigeria, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tanzania and United Arab Emirates. While not directly affecting the manner in which posts provide services to American citizens, Inspectors remarked on problems in the African and Near East regions that could potentially affect these services, especially the lack of sufficient experienced or trained back-up personnel for American Officers or Foreign Service national personnel in smaller posts, and the lack of appropriate language training for American Consular Officers, especially in the Near East area, Attachments: 1. Tabulation of Assistance Provided by Posts to American Citizens Incarcerated Abroad-CY 1978. 2. Americans Arrested Abroad, CY 1978 Report (5 segments).1 1 The statistical summaries on the five segments (1. Worldwide Summary; 2. Prisoner Profile Report; 3. Charges Report; 4. Drug Charges, and 5. Mistreatment Report) are being retained in Committee files. 6 The Inspectors noted that Consular Conventions are being neg ated with Botswana, Lesotho and Turkey. They recommended as exploring the possibility of Consular Conventions with Colomb Liberia, Nigeria, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tanzania and Unite. Arab Emirates. While not directly affecting the manner in which posts pror.. services to American citizens, Inspectors remarked on problems in the African and Near East regions that could potentially affect these serr ices, especially the lack of sufficient experienced or trained backpersonnel for American Officers or Foreign Service national perso in smaller posts, and the lack of appropriate language training for American Consular Officers, especially in the Near East area. Attachments: 1. Tabulation of Assistance Provided by Posts to Americ Citizens Incarcerated Abroad-CY 1978. 2. Americans Arrested Abroad, CY 1978 Report (5 segments) 1 The statistical summaries on the five segments (1. Worldwide Summary: 2 Pri Profile Report: 3. Charges Report; 4. Drug Charges, and 5. Mistreatment Report) are retained in Committee files. TABULATION OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY POSTS TO AMERICAN CITIZENS A. SERVICES TO PRISONERS 1. Prisoners at time of Inspection visit: Services to prisoners appropriate: (a) Visited on more than monthly basis: Israel (b) Visited monthly: Afghanistan Algeria Belgium Bermuda Denmark Finland France Greece Jordan Nepal Hong Kong (e) Visited on less than monthly basis: Iceland United Kingdom China Madagascar Morocco Netherlands Norway Pakistan Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Guinea Guinea-Bissau 2. Prisoners at time of inspection visit: Improvements needed in services to prisoners: Iran (Isfahan)-should visit prisoners monthly. 3. No prisoners at time of inspection visit: Rendered appropriate veices in past and/or aware of all requirements: Bahrain India Central African Ivory Coast Libya Chad Luxembourg Malta Syria Mauritania Panama Portugal Saudi Arabia South Africa Spain Sweden (7) Nigeria Oman Qatar Tunisia United Arab Emirates Upper Volta |