Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAKAR837
2006-04-05 17:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
FIGHTING THE REAL OPPOSITION IN SENEGAL -- THE
how-toVZCZCXRO3431 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHDK #0837 0951748 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051748Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4769 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 000837
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND DRL/PHD
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SG
SUBJECT: FIGHTING THE REAL OPPOSITION IN SENEGAL -- THE
PRESS
REF: 05 DAKAR 02194
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 000837
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND DRL/PHD
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SG
SUBJECT: FIGHTING THE REAL OPPOSITION IN SENEGAL -- THE
PRESS
REF: 05 DAKAR 02194
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Wade and his Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS) have taken the unofficial pre-election campaign for the
hearts and minds of potential voters to the press, and they
expect the media to comply. One politician/labor activist
was recently arrested after making a critical statement to
the media. The PDS is also crowding out private radio
stations and flooding television stations with images of
Wade. Moreover, there is a growing chorus of cries by GOS
officials to crack down on the media. END SUMMARY.
AN ECONOMY ON ITS KNEES AND MONEY OUT THE DOOR
-------------- -
2. (U) On March 11, Ibrahima Sene, member of the Central
Committee for the Labor Party (PIT) and a key figure in the
Senegalese labor movement, held a press conference during
which he described several key sectors of the economy as "on
their knees." He claimed that from January to October 2005,
440 billion CFA francs (CFAF) (USD 800 million) were moved
from Senegal to other countries. On March 22, he was
arrested and charged with dissemination of false information.
He was interrogated four times and, each time, argued he was
repeating information about the balance of payments that had
already been publicized. A number of journalists were
required to testify in the case. Issa Sall of the weekly
"Nouvel Horizon," Jean Pierre Mane of the daily
"L'Observateur," and George Nesta Diop of the daily "Le
Matin," among others, were called as witnesses. When
proceedings began March 23, representatives of all major
opposition parties sat side-by-side in the courtroom to
provide unified support for Sene. On March 29, charges were
dropped for lack of evidence, and Sene was freed.
HOW TO MAKE ONLY ONE VOICE HEARD
--------------
3. (U) While Senegal's media have taken their share of
beatings in the past, things seem to be heating up in the
run-up to 2007 elections. The GOS reacted sharply to Sene's
statement. The judge in the case said Sene wanted to
discredit Senegal's institutions.
4. (U) Yet, the PDS has gone beyond having police arrest
opposition politicians who say things the PDS does not like.
It has also licensed 50 or so new, pro-PDS radio stations to
occupy the airwaves. These stations crowd out and
effectively jam existing radio stations, such as the popular
and private Sud FM, where broadcasts are now frequently
interrupted by religious chanting. Television channels are
also dominated, more than usual, by images of a beneficent
Wade, and especially of his pet construction projects. As
one provincial politician in the southern city of Kolda
recently told us, "To watch national TV, you'd think all of
Senegal was one gigantic public works project." In addition,
the GOS has speckled the streets with billboards pushing the
citizenry to do its civic duties.
5. (C) Perhaps more striking than the above were statements
made by GOS officials to visiting Director of the Office for
West African Affairs (AF/W) Phillip Carter. Habib Mbaye of
the GOS agency responsible for the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) proposal told Mr. Carter the press is
"unchained and dangerous." He said that if the press says
the wrong thing, the Government should close it down. Iba
Der Thiam, First Vice-President of the National Assembly,
told Mr. Carter the biggest challenge for the Assembly right
now is to further regulate people, as they currently have
"too much liberty." He added, with bitterness, that people
can and do criticize the President and his family, "something
not possible in the U.S. or anywhere else."
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The opposition has not yet shown that it can mount a
serious challenge to the PDS. Wade and his party know,
however, that the media have the power to cast serious doubt
on Wade's ability to lead a second term and on the PDS'
ability to bring Senegal out of its economic doldrums. It
looks like they may not be willing to take any chances. If
GOS officials' statements are any indication, speech may
become less and less unfettered as the elections get closer.
END COMMENT.
JACKSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND DRL/PHD
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SG
SUBJECT: FIGHTING THE REAL OPPOSITION IN SENEGAL -- THE
PRESS
REF: 05 DAKAR 02194
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) President Wade and his Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS) have taken the unofficial pre-election campaign for the
hearts and minds of potential voters to the press, and they
expect the media to comply. One politician/labor activist
was recently arrested after making a critical statement to
the media. The PDS is also crowding out private radio
stations and flooding television stations with images of
Wade. Moreover, there is a growing chorus of cries by GOS
officials to crack down on the media. END SUMMARY.
AN ECONOMY ON ITS KNEES AND MONEY OUT THE DOOR
-------------- -
2. (U) On March 11, Ibrahima Sene, member of the Central
Committee for the Labor Party (PIT) and a key figure in the
Senegalese labor movement, held a press conference during
which he described several key sectors of the economy as "on
their knees." He claimed that from January to October 2005,
440 billion CFA francs (CFAF) (USD 800 million) were moved
from Senegal to other countries. On March 22, he was
arrested and charged with dissemination of false information.
He was interrogated four times and, each time, argued he was
repeating information about the balance of payments that had
already been publicized. A number of journalists were
required to testify in the case. Issa Sall of the weekly
"Nouvel Horizon," Jean Pierre Mane of the daily
"L'Observateur," and George Nesta Diop of the daily "Le
Matin," among others, were called as witnesses. When
proceedings began March 23, representatives of all major
opposition parties sat side-by-side in the courtroom to
provide unified support for Sene. On March 29, charges were
dropped for lack of evidence, and Sene was freed.
HOW TO MAKE ONLY ONE VOICE HEARD
--------------
3. (U) While Senegal's media have taken their share of
beatings in the past, things seem to be heating up in the
run-up to 2007 elections. The GOS reacted sharply to Sene's
statement. The judge in the case said Sene wanted to
discredit Senegal's institutions.
4. (U) Yet, the PDS has gone beyond having police arrest
opposition politicians who say things the PDS does not like.
It has also licensed 50 or so new, pro-PDS radio stations to
occupy the airwaves. These stations crowd out and
effectively jam existing radio stations, such as the popular
and private Sud FM, where broadcasts are now frequently
interrupted by religious chanting. Television channels are
also dominated, more than usual, by images of a beneficent
Wade, and especially of his pet construction projects. As
one provincial politician in the southern city of Kolda
recently told us, "To watch national TV, you'd think all of
Senegal was one gigantic public works project." In addition,
the GOS has speckled the streets with billboards pushing the
citizenry to do its civic duties.
5. (C) Perhaps more striking than the above were statements
made by GOS officials to visiting Director of the Office for
West African Affairs (AF/W) Phillip Carter. Habib Mbaye of
the GOS agency responsible for the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) proposal told Mr. Carter the press is
"unchained and dangerous." He said that if the press says
the wrong thing, the Government should close it down. Iba
Der Thiam, First Vice-President of the National Assembly,
told Mr. Carter the biggest challenge for the Assembly right
now is to further regulate people, as they currently have
"too much liberty." He added, with bitterness, that people
can and do criticize the President and his family, "something
not possible in the U.S. or anywhere else."
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The opposition has not yet shown that it can mount a
serious challenge to the PDS. Wade and his party know,
however, that the media have the power to cast serious doubt
on Wade's ability to lead a second term and on the PDS'
ability to bring Senegal out of its economic doldrums. It
looks like they may not be willing to take any chances. If
GOS officials' statements are any indication, speech may
become less and less unfettered as the elections get closer.
END COMMENT.
JACKSON