NIGER: A NEAR MISS ON ABRIDGEMENT OF FREE SPEECH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 001200 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT: FOR AF/W, BACHMAN; PASS TO MCC; AF/RSA FOR HARPOLE; PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NG SUBJECT: NIGER: A NEAR MISS ON ABRIDGEMENT OF FREE SPEECH NIAMEY 00001200 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: On October 24, International news organizations (Radio France International and the BBC French Service) reported that the Government of Niger (GON) had banned something called the "social forum," a meeting of anti-globalization activists from Niger and several foreign countries. By day's end the situation had clarified, with the GON rescinding an apparently ill-thought-out and illegal ban, and the national Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (CESOC) stepping up to assume its role as mediator between government and civil society. The end result is another small win for Niger's young democracy, and another cautionary tale of how much democratic acculturation remains to be done at the highest levels of the Nigerien government. END SUMMARY ¶2. Reacting to press reports that Nigerien activists had invited foreign guests to present at a "social forum" organized by Nigerien anti-globalization activist Moussa Tchangari, GON Interior Minister Mounkaila Modi issued a letter banning the event on October 20. Addressed, rather inaccurately, to the "President of the Committee organizing the Nigerien Social Forum," the Minister's letter read: "The Government has come to know through the media that a group of NGOs and '(civil society)' associations envision holding the second edition of the social forum in Niamey from October 27 to 30 2006. In this connection, certain organizers have appeared on TV and radio stating that this forum will bring together persons who oppose the current government of Niger. The Government of the Republic of Niger, a product of free and transparent elections, solicitous and respectful of democratic principles, cannot accept the organization on the national soil of this event, which is, moreover, done by foreign nationals." ¶3. On the 23rd, the GON's spokesman, Minister of Institutional Relations Mohamed Ben Omar, gave a television interview in which he stated that the GON would not authorize the organizers to hold the conference, because their main objective was to destabilize the regime. He added that the GON would not allow foreigners to criticize it in its own country. ¶4. Press FSN spoke with Tchangari on 24th, the day the story broke. Tchangari stated that his organization - Groupe Alternative - had sent a letter to the GON some time ago informing them of their intention to organize the forum. He stated that he was shocked by the GON's reaction, and reiterated comments made earlier in the day to international media to the effect that the Minister's letter was "astonishing and ridiculous." While Tchangari and Groupe Alternative initially sought to challenge the order in court, they accepted mediation by the CESOC late on the 23rd. According to Tchangari, President Tandja had recommended that the CESOC mediate the dispute. ¶5. The CESOC, headed by veteran politician and ruling coalition member Cheiffou Amadou appears to have fulfilled its role. Set up in the aftermath of massive civil society led protests against a value added tax in the spring of 2005, the CESOC is designed to mediate between the GON and the civil society organizations and NGOs that often oppose it. However, this was the first occasion on which the CESOC, generally perceived as a retirement sinecure for Cheiffou Amadou had played its intended role. In an e-mail to PolFSN on the afternoon of the 24th, Abdramane Ousmane, of the Journalists' Network for Human Rights (RJDH),noted that he was participating in the negotiations as part of Tchangari's team. He reported that the negotiations were on the verge of authorizing the forum. ¶6. Under an agreement brokered by CESOC on the 26th, the GON agreed to authorize the forum, which will now take place from November 3rd. Groupe Alternative agreed to take the GON's concerns "into account." CESOC will moderate the forum. Tchangari and the other organizers convened a press conference the same day, reiterating that the GON had no legal right to ban the ceremony and that any Nigerien group or individual has the right to propose alternative policy choices for the country. -------------- COMMENT: -------------- ¶7. The dust up over Groupe Alternative's efforts to organize the social forum underscores the continued difficulty that certain GON officials have with some of the basic tenets of democracy. Moussa Tchangari is an opponent of globalization, capitalism, the IMF and World Bank, and all of the usual NIAMEY 00001200 002.2 OF 002 "villains" associated with the global market economy. He is also an opponent of the current GON, which has worked hard to improve the country's economy and lessen its debt load through adherence to IMF strictures. Tchangari's views on structural readjustment are shared by many of similar ideological persuasion around the world. For years, Tchangari and Groupe Alternative have held meetings and presented papers, flown to international conferences opposing globalization, and brought foreign (usually Canadian) activists to Niger to support them in their work. Nothing here was really new; nothing about the low-profile and poorly attended forum realistically threatened the GON. ¶8. Mounkaila Modi's allergic reaction seems to have proceeded without clearance from the Prime Minister or President. Thus, the GON was willing to step back from the decision via the face-saving measure of CESOC mediation. End results: an unqualified success for Tchangari and company, who would never have received media attention on this scale for the forum itself; another nail in the professional coffin of Mounkaila Modi, whose name already appeared on many short lists of Ministers to be reshuffled out-of-a portfolio in a long-awaited cabinet reorganization likely to take place by the end of the year; and, another lesson learned for Nigeriens of all political persuasions who continue to do their level best to make their young democracy work. ALLEN