Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ACCRA1382
2004-06-30 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

THREE MURDERED JUDGES HONORED; OPPOSITION STAYS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR GH 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001382 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR GH
SUBJECT: THREE MURDERED JUDGES HONORED; OPPOSITION STAYS
AWAY

REF: ACCRA 1311

Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5 (B/D).

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001382

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR GH
SUBJECT: THREE MURDERED JUDGES HONORED; OPPOSITION STAYS
AWAY

REF: ACCRA 1311

Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.5 (B/D).

Summary
--------------

1. (SBU) On June 28, the Ghanaian Government honored the
memory of three judges murdered in 1982, in the turbulent
early years of former President Rawlings' PNDC military
government. President Kufuor unveiled busts of the three
executed jurists before a solemn audience of Ghana's social
and political elite -- minus his political opposition.
Simultaneously, the National Reconciliation Commission took
additional hearsay testimony that Rawlings and his close
advisors ordered the killings. While Commission proceedings
have been scrupulously non-partisan, and the unveiling
ceremony made no mention of the politics of the day, the
political overtones in an election year were unavoidable.
Meanwhile, opposition politicians quietly discussed the
December elections with security personnel.

Murdered Judges Busts Unveiled
--------------

2. (U) President Kufuor, Chief Justice Acquah, and Speaker of
Parliament Adjetey unveiled bronze busts of the three
murdered judges before a large crowd seated on the lawn of
Ghana's Supreme Court Building. Speaker after speaker
extolled the courage of the judges (who struck down edicts of
the then-military government),and recalled the repressive
atmosphere of the period (while avoiding any mention of who
actually ruled Ghana in 1982 -- Jerry Rawlings and his PNDC
government). Although scattered among the hundreds of
lawyers, government officials, and social and political
notables attending the crowd were supporters of the NDC and
other parties, no "official" members of the principal
opposition attended -- no DNC members of parliament, or
former ministers, or NDC party officers.

NRC Takes Hearsay Testimony That Rawlings Knew All
-------------- --------------

3. (U) For the previous several weeks, the National
Reconciliation Commission has renewed its examination of the
murder of the three judges, recalling former National
Security Advisor Kojo Tsikata, and a number of others, to
offer additional testimony on the gruesome events of 1982
(the three judges were abducted late at night by unknown
persons, executed, and partially incinerated -- an official

of the PDNC government and several others were later tried,
convicted, and executed by the PNDC government itself for the
murders). On the day of the ceremony honoring the judges, a
witness offered hearsay testimony, previously heard from
other hearsay sources, that Rawlings and Tsikata had
"master-minded" the killings (Rawlings and Tsikata have
stoutly maintained their innocence on many occasions). While
simultaneous to the unveiling ceremony, the timing of the
testimony appears to have been coincidental.


NDC and Security Forces Continue Informal Discussions
-------------- --------------

4. (C) Against the backdrop of these two dramatic public
events recalling past security force abuses, Former Vice
President Atta Mills, the NDC candidate for president, and
other NDC officials, met informally with senior security
personnel to discuss election security and other topics.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Patrick Acheampong told
polchief June 24 that the a 2-hour meeting with police
commanders in Accra went "very well," and Mills was very
appreciative of the opportunity to talk at length on the
upcoming elections. Mills also told the police commanders
that he regarded Rawlings as a burden, needing to use him in
the campaign due to Rawlings continuing personal popularity
with NDC supporters, but having to manage Rawlings'
propensity to shoot from the hip and make outrageous
statements.


5. (C) Other NDC officials are also reaching out. A Muslim
NDC parliamentary candidate told polchief June 28 that he had
just met with National Security Advisor Francis Poku, an old
friend, and had reassured Poku that "mainstream" NDC
candidates and activists wanted a peaceful election season.
Poku, he said, gave a measured response, pledging security
force neutrality, but noting that security forces would be
ready for trouble "if they needed to be." (Note: this
qualified pledge mirrors Atta Mills' statement to Ambassador
Yates on June 22 that he meant to be the candidate of peace,
but only if "everyone" was peaceful. Reftel.)

Comment
--------------

6. (C) In honoring the murdered judges, the Kufuor
government underlines its own commitment to the rule of law
and ordered government, while reminding everyone (without
having to spell it out) that Rawlings and his minions were in
charge when the killings happened. While no definitive
answer exists on Rawlings' personal involvement, testimony
before the National Reconciliation Commission deepens the
distinction the present government wishes the public to draw
between legitimate and illegitimate governments.


7. (C) The informal NDC boycott of the commemorative
ceremony reinforces the perception that the principal
opposition party, as a successor to the PNDC military junta,
cannot yet break with its anti-democratic past. Mills is
making some efforts to establish himself as a candidate
independent of Rawlings, and his reaching out to security
forces is a positive development. Each side, government and
opposition, remains suspicious of the other's electoral
season intentions, but reason and restraint so far prevail.
End summary.





Yates