AUSTRALIA EXTENDS SANCTIONS TO ADDITIONAL MUGABE SUPPORTERS

UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY UNCLAS CANBERRA 001285 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD, AS, ZI SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA EXTENDS SANCTIONS TO ADDITIONAL MUGABE SUPPORTERS REF: SARRANO-KAGAN EMAIL 12/17/2008 1. (SBU) Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Embassy December 17 that the GOA has announced it will extend sanctions against 75 more supporters of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, and against four extra companies. DFAT Director for Sanctions and Transnational Crimes Peter Scott told econoff this move was to reflect changes since Zimbabwe's recent elections; he noted that a half-dozen individuals would actually come off the list. 2. (SBU) The travel restrictions will take effect almost immediately; DFAT will pass the names to Australian immigration officials for inclusion on their list. The extension of financial sanctions to these additional individuals/companies DFAT hopes to have concluded before Christmas; if not, it will slip to early January. Scott also said the GOA was going to impose additional controls on public support of trade with Zimbabwe, probably with an announcement before Christmas. MCCALLUM