NIGER: A NEAR MISS ON ABRIDGEMENT OF FREE SPEECH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 001200

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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.

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COMMENT:
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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