STUDENT GROUP PLANS TO DEMONSTRATE FOR DEBT RELIEF

UNCLAS ABUJA 001005 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC EFIN NI SUBJECT: STUDENT GROUP PLANS TO DEMONSTRATE FOR DEBT RELIEF REF: ABUJA 962 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. ¶1. (SBU) A group calling itself the International Debt Relieve (sic) Campaign Project Committee of NANS, the National Association of Nigerian Students, called the Embassy June 7 to say they were planning a demonstration June 8 at or as near the Embassy as the GON will allow. The group claims it has a GON permit, which the Nigerian police have not confirmed, and Embassy RSO told them to stay outside the Embassy's security cordon. The group says it will present a letter to the Ambassador (who is not and will not be at post) asking U.S. support for debt relief at the June 8-10 G8 Summit at Sea Island. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: NANS is a long-established student organization, but there is no evidence these students are representing NANS. President Obasanjo is expected to make a strong pitch for debt relief when he attends the Sea Island G8 Summit. ROBERTS