TROOPS SILENCE BAYELSA RADIO, RAID GOVERNMENT HOUSE

UNCLAS LAGOS 001820 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV NI SUBJECT: TROOPS SILENCE BAYELSA RADIO, RAID GOVERNMENT HOUSE REF: LAGOS 1814 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) The political crisis in Bayelsa intensified Wednesday morning when Federal troops occupied the state-owned radio station, Bayelsa Radio, and shut it down. Station workers were turned away when they reported to work early Wednesday. Media sources quoted Bayelsa State officials denouncing the move as an assault on press freedom "...in furtherance of the attempted civilian coup d'etat." Federal authorities issued no explanation of the move, but Mission sources indicate the move was intended to silence broadcasts deemed to be inciting the Bayelsa populace against the Federal Government. ¶2. (SBU) Federal troops also occupied the governor's offices at the Bayelsa Government House and searched the premises and all personnel. Some reports indicated the troops were searching for weapons stockpiled at the site, while others say the target was incriminating documents. ¶3. (U) Governor Alamieyeseigha spent the day at his country home in Amassoma, northwest of Yenagoa. BROWNE