GUINEAN GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ENFORCE BAN OF

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001083 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: GUINEAN GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ENFORCE BAN OF ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATIONS ¶1. (U) In response to several street demonstrations in Conakry over the last month, the Minister of Interior and Security (MIS),Mamadou Beau Keita, announced on September 21 that the Government of Guinea (GoG) has banned all unauthorized demonstrations in certain districts of the capital. Although the announcement was widely reported in the press as a new development, Guinean law requires a 72-working-hour advance notice for any public gatherings. In addition, the law permits local authorities to cancel a demonstration or meeting if they believe it poses a threat to public order. ¶2. (SBU) Contacts report that none of the recent street demonstrations were legal since participants did not file the appropriate paperwork with the government. According to RSO reports, these were spontaneous demonstrations with reportedly destructive undertones, bordering on criminal activity. Subsequent to the Minister,s announcement, an internet source reported that additional demonstrations occurred on September 25 in defiance of the government. In a meeting with poloff on September 25, Elhadj Amadou Diallo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior and Security, SIPDIS said he was not aware of the Minister,s announcement, but that the demonstrations in question are illegal and a &little criminal8 in nature. ¶3. (U) There have also been a number of peaceful, legal demonstrations in recent weeks, which were organized by civil society organizations and unions. There were no reports that the government impeded these demonstrations or forbid further such activity. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT. Despite local press reports, the Guinean government,s actions appear to be more of an effort to restate existing law and assert that the law will be enforced rather than an attempt to clamp down on civil liberties. END COMMENT. BROKENSHIRE