SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED IN CLASHES OVER ID PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000804 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016 TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL KPKO IV SUBJECT: SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED IN CLASHES OVER ID PROCESS Classified By: Poloff Phaedra Gwyn for reasons 1.4 b&d ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Several people were killed and more than twenty injured over the weekend in Divo during violent confrontations at protests aimed at blocking the "audiences foraines" -- itinerant hearings -- from going forward with the identification process. Opposition party leaders are encouraging their members to respond forcefully when attacked while the FPI (Ivoirian Popular Front) is threatening to block all government activities if the hearings are not stopped within one week. With the opposition youth becoming increasingly willing to face down the Young Patriots, tensions are likely to escalate, especially in the western region of Cote d'Ivoire. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The city of Divo, an FPI stronghold located in the center-west of Cote d'Ivoire, had not yet started the hearings when Young Patriots began erecting barricades throughout town on July 20. According to newspaper reports, the confrontations began that day with a scuffle between an ethnic Dioula (from northern Cote d'Ivoire) and an ethnic Dida (native to Divo). Tensions mounted on July 22 when police arrested an RDR (Rally of Democratic Republicans) member for carrying a machete. RDR youth besieged the police station until the detainee was released early on the morning of July 23. Later the same day, RDR members heard that Young Patriots were going to the local market to burn it down (Note: Most of the owners of the market stalls are Dioula). RDR youth proceeded to the market to confront the Young Patriots and the situation turned violent. Police used tear gas to try to disperse the youth but according to newspaper reports, between one and seven youths were killed and more than twenty sustained injuries from bullet wounds or machetes. A contact with the UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance told us that at least five people were killed. ¶3. (SBU) In press conferences on July 23, opposition party leaders strongly condemned the FPI's efforts to block the identification process and encouraged their members to use all available means to ensure that the AF continue. PDCI (Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire) Secretary General Alphonse Djedje Mady said members should use violence when attacked to defend their rights and several RDR party officials urged their members to continue to confront the FPI. The alliance of youth groups from the four main opposition parties announced that they would take it upon themselves to provide security for the itinerant hearings. ¶4. (C) Despite the violence, fifty teams of magistrates continue to register undocumented Ivoirians and foreigners in pockets of the government-controlled south and across the entire New Forces (NF) territory. The Ministry of Justice official in charge of operations for these hearings told us July 24 that seven more teams would begin working that day while seven others continue to function in the south. The activities of sixteen others in the south have been disturbed by violence, while two teams are working in the Zone of Confidence. The official said the eighteen teams in the NF-zone have had no problems. Sidike Konate, Director of Cabinet for NF Secretary General Guillaume Soro, has been featured prominently in the newspapers discussing the success of the itinerant hearings in their zone and encouraging the FPI to send representatives to observe. Representatives from the other major political parties are following the hearings nationwide to make sure the process is fair. ¶5. (C) Comment: With the opposition youth increasingly willing to face down the Young Patriots, tensions are likely to escalate, especially in the western region of Cote d'Ivoire. True to form, the FPI is complementing their tactic of street violence by slowly building the case for a legal challenge to the identification documents being issued by questioning the transparency of the hearings. End Comment. Hooks