GABON AND SAO TOME MISCELLANY APRIL 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000300

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
KINSHASA PASS BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV GB TP
SUBJECT: GABON AND SAO TOME MISCELLANY APRIL 2006


Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER GLENN FEDZER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D)


1. (U) Mamboundou's Stay in South African Embassy Ended

UPG (Union of Gabonese People) President and opposition
leader Pierre Mamboundou, in the South African Embassy since
March 21, left his refuge the morning of April 19. A South
African diplomat reported that the South African Ambassador
accompanied him as far as the Presidency, where Mamboundou
met with President Bongo.


2. (C) Mamboundou demands concessions from President Bongo

Sources from both sides indicate that the April 19 meeting
between President Bongo and opposition leaders Pierre
Mamboundou was a heated and difficult exchange, despite the
positive spin put on the meeting by the Government controlled
press. Mamboundou reportedly made five demands from
President Bongo:
--Assure Mamboundou's personal security;
--Give the UPG freedom of action;
--Compel the government to respect the law;
--Give opposition members access to the media; and
--Give legal stature to opposition parties and politicians.
For his part, the President complained that Mamboundou
insulted him personally, and instigated violence during the
Gabonese election.


3. (C) Pierre Mamboundou May Get Official Post

Opposition leader Pierre Mamboundou may get an official post
as "Opposition Leader," including a budget and staff,
according to Vice Prime Minister Louis Gaston Mayila.
Mamboundou is currently staying in a suite in the Meridian
Hotel (Mayila is reportedly on the hotel's board of
directors),and has given several press conferences since his
meeting with Bongo, elaborating his concerns on the current
state of Gabonese politics. Mayila privately says that
Mamboundou should have some form of official recognition and
protection. He claims to have personally given Mamboundou
money while he was in hiding in the South African Embassy.


4. (U) Opposition Party Recognized

Zacharie Myboto's political party, the Gabonese Union for
Democracy and Development, was officially recognized by the
Government. Myboto, a former minister and Secretary General
of President Bongo's Democratic Gabonese Party (PDG),broke
with the President in April 2005, and finished third in the
Presidential election in November 2005, when he ran as an
independent. Myboto and his party commemorated the party's
new status with rallies over the April 29th weekend.


5. (C) Senate President Competition Rumors Focus on Two
Candidates

The two names most frequently mentioned as replacements for
recently deceased Gabonese Senate President Georges Rawiri
are Senate First Secretary Claude Damas Ozimo and Senator
Rene Radembinot Coniquet, both ethnic Myene, like Rawiri.
Most of the money appears to be on Damas Ozimo. A former
Libreville mayor, Ozimo is prominent in the Masonic lodge
Rawiri used to lead, and comes from an important political
family (his father wrote the Gabonese National Anthem).
Little is known about Radembinot Coniquet. Both have
maintained a low public profile. The Senate position is
important; upon the death of the President, the Senate
President becomes the acting head of state. That may also
change; along with the rumors of Rawiri's replacement is
another that the President will amend the constitution,
moving the line of succession over to the head of the
National Assembly.


6. (C) Equatorial Guinean Asylum Applications Impeded

Phillipe Kombila, the permanent Secretary of the Gabonese
Mission for Refugees, told the Embassy that he had been
instructed by senior Gabonese Government officials to move
slowly when processing asylum and refugee applications from
Equato-Guineans. Kombila explained that the Government did
not want to antagonize Equatorial Guinean President Obiang,
particularly in light of the coup attempt that had been
allegedly launched from Gabonese territory in May 2004.


7. (C) Gabonese Pilot Claims Plan was to Shoot Down Deby's
Plane

A contact reports that the Gabonese pilot that flew Chadian
President Dby back to N'Djemena suspected that elements
planed to shoot the plane down just before arrival aspart
of a coup attempt March 14. The pilot, Cyraque Mbadinga,
told the contact that he was questioned during his approach
to N'djamena by the control tower, demanding to know who was
on the flight. The contact reports Mbadinga, sensing from
the tone of the questions that something was wrong,
immediately broke radio contact and made a quick landing.
Mbadinga said French and Chadian troops were on the runway
waiting for Deby to arrive, and quickly spirited him off the
airplane and out of the airport.


8. (C) Herve Patrick Opiangah Released From Prison

The President of the Union for Democracy and Social
Integration (UDIS) was released from prison in March,
ostensibly for reasons of poor health. Opiangah organized a
protest in November 2004 demanding official recognition for
his political party; several hundred of his supporters, some
visibly armed with sharpened sticks, blocked a major road and
faced down riot police for nearly three hours near the
Presidential Palace until security forces broke up the group,
unleashing tear gas and arresting demonstrators, including
Opiangah. Opiangah was arrested and jailed on weapons
charges; he admitted having a pistol in his possession during
the protest, but maintained it was a gift from Ali Bongo that
he carried with him at all times for personal security.
Other weapons were allegedly found at his home and business,
although to no one's surprise, as he ran a security company.
Opiangah's original sentence was set to expire in March 2007;
his family has actively solicited his release on humanitarian
grounds. He a
ppeared in good health during a meeting with the Embassy
April 4, but complained that the Gabonese penal system is
past the breaking point, with prisoners dying regularly of
disease, mistreatment, and malnutrition. He claims he was
held in a small room with 40 other men for over six months;
in that time the prisoners were not afforded any change of
clothing or adequate water for personal hygiene; drinking
water and food were also extremely limited.


9. (C) Opposition Supporter Reports on 1 December Arrests

UPG supporter Christian Nkombengnondo described to Poloff the
aftermath of the police roundup following an opposition press
conference 1 December 2005 (see 05 Libreville cable 0994).
Nkombengnondo reported that he was handcuffed and beaten, and
then held for three days with other detainees without food.
On the fourth day he was fed and taken to court, where,
unlike most, he was released. He credits his good fortune to
the influence of his mother (an influential supporter of the
ruling PDG),but he reports that 18 others, including three
15 year-olds, are still being held in the central prison.
Nkombengnondo said the magistrate who handled his case was
punished for releasing him. She had been instructed to send
anyone who even said "UPG" during pretrial interrogations
straight to prison, and she was transferred to a remote
province because of her leniency with Nkombengnondo.
Nkombengnondo claims he fears for his life, citing the case
of Alain Renamy Bisson, another 1 December detainee and UPG
supporter,
seen standing next to him in a published photo. Bisson was
also released shortly after his arrest, but died recently.
Nkombengnondo hinted that his death was "mysterious" and
linked to his outspoken support of the opposition in Bongo's
home province, but a high level UPG activist indicated that
the death of the 42-year old Bisson was likely due to natural
causes. Comment: Nkombengnondo's account is reminiscent of
that of his leader, Mamboundou, who also claims that he fears
for his life. We find both difficult to credit.


10. (C) Ambassador Meets Gabonese Human Rights Minister

The Ambassador met with Minister Pierre Claver Maganga
Moussavou, who is responsible for human rights, and the fight
against corruption. Moussavou is the President of the Social
Democrat Party. He signed the 1994 Paris Accords as an
opposition member, but has since taken his party into the
"Presidential Majority." Moussavou solicited USG help for
both his portfolios; he honestly discussed current prison
conditions, and asked for computers that could help
authorities better manage pre-trial and post-sentencing
populations. Unlike his predecessor, Paul Mba Abessole
(currently a Vice Prime Minister and Transport Minister),
Moussavou seemed serious about his work. He discussed
concrete ways of making some headway in his portfolios, and
noted it was due to his actions that Opiangah (see above) was
released on medical grounds.


11. (U) Taxi Union Threatens to Double Fare But-Not Just
Yet

Taxi Driver's Union President Jean-Robert Menie said his
members will double their rates, from 100 CFA to 200 CFA for
short rides in response to higher fuel prices. This could
have a ripple effect on the economy, if civil servants, who
already receive a 17,000 CFA monthly allowance for transport,
and others demand more money to cover the increase. Menie
initially threatened the fare increase for April 3, but was
personally asked by the Gabonese Prime Minister to delay the
action for one week to give the government time to find a
solution. As of May 4 Menie has yet to implement the fare
increase.


12. (U) Child Trafficking Study Release

An extensive study on child trafficking, partially sponsored
by the Minister of the Family and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, was released April 26. The study, written by Denise
Landria Ndembi, analyzed cases in Gabon, Benin, and Togo, and
suggested ways of promoting regional and international
cooperation to combat trafficking. The study also made
suggestions to redefine national strategies to improve
education, economic development, and anti-poverty measures.
DHANANI