UNCLAS DAKAR 000587

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, INL, DRL/PHD AND INR/AA
AID/W FOR AFR/WA
ACCRA FOR USAID/WARP
LISBON ALSO FOR DAO
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS KCRM PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: GOVERNMENT PROGRAM UNDER
CONSIDERATION; ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS UNDERWAY

REF: DAKAR 0239

GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM STILL ALIVE
--------------

1. (U) The National Popular Assembly (ANP) voted to
schedule the Government's policy program for discussion,
overturning a technical advisory board's decision, which
tried to keep the program from being read by the full
Assembly. Fifty-one parliamentarians voted in favor,
thirty-four against, and four abstained in the vote.
Members are now reading the program and will deliberate
and vote on approval later this month. Approval of the
program would be a major accomplishment for President
Vieira and his embattled Prime Minister, Aristides Gomes,
who the leadership of the fractured Party for the
Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC)
continues to denounce as an unconstitutional appointment
despite a Supreme Court ruling to the contrary (Reftel).

ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS
--------------

2. (U) The Prime Minister sacked Justice Minister Dr.
Namuano Dias on March 3 and replaced him with Dr. Braima
Dafe to keep on track the corruption trial of Rene Barros,
the former head of the state Electric and Water Company.
Barros is accused of misappropriating about USD 79,000 (43
million CFA). Dias protested the detention of Barros, and
threatened to hold up the trial, claiming there was no
presumption of innocence.


3. (U) Other anti-corruption efforts moving forward
include three separate trials that were opened by the
previous Prime Minister, Carlos Gomes Jr. of the PAIGC.
The current Prime Minister has reopened the cases, despite
the fact that two of the three campaigned heavily for
President Vieira.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: With the recent visit of the World Bank
to Bissau and an upcoming International Monetary Fund
visit, it appears Vieira and Aristides Gomes are taking
steps the international community wants to see with
respect to anti-corruption efforts, even if it means going
after their own supporters. END COMMENT.

JACKSON