TFGV01: SITREP 40: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 14, 2007,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000177

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR GUINEA TASK FORCE, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/IP/AF
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO AID/AFR, PEACE CORPS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 40: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 14, 2007,
1200 GMT

REF: CONAKRY 176 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: POLOFF JESSICA DAVIS BA, REASON 1.4 (b,d)

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Security Overview
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1. (SBU) As of this morning, the military continues to
enforce the "state of siege" that extends extensive powers to
Guinea's armed forces. At 0800, streets were empty of
vehicular traffic, but there was some pedestrian presence.
Small breakfast vendors were in evidence, but market stalls,
shops and stores have been closed since February 10.


2. (SBU) On the February 13 evening news, General Kerfalla
Camara, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, addressed the
nation and invited all members of the armed forces to take
the measures necessary to implement the state of emergency,
including stopping and searching vehicles. General Camara
stated that security forces are authorized to use lethal
force. The military slightly amended the curfew, allowing
free circulation between the hours of 1200 and 1800. This is
a slight opening of the four-hour window announced on
February 12. Persons are allowed to congregate only for
religious ceremonies. We will monitor today's expanded
non-curfew period to see if stalls and shops open.


3. (SBU) Diplomats, the Red Cross and, reportedly,
international organizations (still trying to confirm the
last),were authorized to circulate between the hours of 0800
and 1600. This is a clear violation of Guinea's obligations
under the Vienna convention. The Ambassador has made this
point in person with the Foreign Minister Mamadi Conde at
10:00 this morning, and is, as of this writing, making it as
well with the Prime Minister Eugene Camara. The French
Ambassador has also demarched the Foreign Minister on this
matter.


4. (C) The Ambassador is meeting now with the Prime
Minister, in company with other western Ambassadors and the
EU Rep, to deliver a frank and tough message. He has also
requested a bilateral meeting today with General Kerfalla.


5. (C) Some of Guinea's land borders are reportedly closed
for departure. Separate missionary groups informed us
yesterday evening that when they tried to cross the border
into Sierra Leone near Mamou and Faranah, they were stopped
by military officers. The missionaries were told their
travel would have to be authorized by the General Kerfalla.
However, our sources in N'Zerekore report that merchants
arrived this morning by road from Cote d'Ivoire. SOurces
tell us there is traffic across the Guinea-Senegal border at
Koundara.


6. (SBU) The airport is open. General Kerfalla announced
that international flights were permitted, provided they
request his approval. The Air France Paris/Conakry/Paris
flight operated yesterday without incident, as did a
commercial flight operated by Paramount Airlines to Freetown.
While the Air France flight that was tentatively scheduled
for today will not/not be coming in, we understand that
flights each night from Thursday, February 15 through Sunday,
February 18 are probable. We are updating our warden message
with this information and are urging American citizens to
take advantage of this commercial air service.


7. (C) The port remains open, according to the Guinean
military, but it is only minimally staffed.


8. (SBU) The situation in the interior remains tenuous. We
have confirmed reports that military forces killed four
persons in Labe following an attack on a private bank. One
was a woman who was returning from the market. There are
unconfirmed reports of at least one death in Macenta.
N'Zerekore is currently calm, with the majority of persons
abiding by the curfew. The military have beaten and arrested
people on the streets, and at least seven people were
reportedly killed there when the population attacked the
governor's office February 12.


9. (SBU) The unions maintain the general strike that
re-activated on February 12. There has been no formal
dialogue between the government, military, or the unions.

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CONAKRY 00000177 002 OF 002


Mission Operations
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10. (SBU) All American employees in country are at work at
the Embassy compound. Staff came into work with designated
drivers assigned to pick up colleagues living in the same
area. We have adequate fuel supplies and will renew
residential fuel and water deliveries now that we are clearly
able to circulate during the 0800-1800 timeframe. MGT Officer
is canvassing employees to determine where it might desirable
to consolidate personnel due either to security or logistic
constraints.


11. (C) EAC met at 0900 to review developments. We
determined that we would be able to fill the 47 available
seats should the military aircraft now on stand-by in Dakar
make a second trip to Conakry, provided it came in at about
1600 February 15 (to allow for curfew and organization). We
considered the deployment of an MSD team, but do not believe
it is necessary at this time; we will continue to reevaluate
as events develop.

MCDONALD