TFGV01: SITREP 44: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 17, 2007,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000187 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR GUINEA TASK FORCE, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/IP/AF PLEASE ALSO PASS TO AID/AFR, PEACE CORPS C O R R E C T E D COPY - CHANGED CLASSIFICATION MARKINGS PARAGRAPH 1. E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017 TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 44: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 17, 2007, 1200 GMT REF: CONAKRY 184 AND PREVIOUS CONAKRY 00000187 001.3 OF 002 Classified By: POLOFF JESSICA DAVIS BA, REASON 1.4 (b,d) -------------- Situation on the Ground -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Conakry remains quiet. Yesterday afternoon, some shops and food markets opened during the non-curfew hours (noon - 1800),and vehicular traffic was slightly heavier than in previous days. During curfew hours, there is almost no vehicular traffic, except for military patrols, which continue to go through various neighborhoods. ¶2. (C) The military has decreased its overall presence since the beginning of the week. Military contacts have told us that police and gendarmes will once again take the lead on security and law enforcement, but this has not been announced publicly. The military, police, and gendarmes continue to patrol and man certain flashpoints. Checkpoints remain in several areas of the city, and we have received reports of military officers who verbally harass and threaten civilians, including two AmCit journalists. ¶3. (C) Outside Conakry, the military is reportedly conducting several operations. In Kouroussa, a city near Kankan in Upper Guinea, the mayor told us that on February 16 at least 100 military troops arrived to arrest youth suspected of the destruction of retired General Sory Doumbouya's house. Soldiers are strictly enforcing the curfew by firing shots throughout Kouroussa and are conducting door-to-door searches for those whose names are on their list of suspects. Thus far, we understand they have arrested more than 40 persons. We received similar reports from Koundara, near the border with Senegal; N'Zerekore, capital of the Forest Region; and Banankoro, a key diamond mining center. ¶4. (C) In Macenta, authorities have reportedly arrested at least 50 people who are suspected of being ex-combatants affiliated with ULIMO. Some of these men were found with automatic rifles and machine guns. Because the prison in Macenta was destroyed during protests last week, the detainees are being held at the military barracks in N'Zerekore, about 2 hours distant. The military in N'Zerekore reportedly arrested at least 40 additional armed persons there. On February 14, N'Zerekore's prison burned down, according to a call from an Embassy contact there. He said that prisoners held in the facility were safely moved to the military barracks, but said he understood that as many as 12 subsequently suffocated in the extremely crowded conditions of confinement. ¶5. (SBU) The airport remains open with multiple international flights approved by General Kerfalla Camara. Royal Air Maroc will re-initiate service on February 19 and plans to fly three times per week. Yesterday's Air France brought in a larger 300-passenger plane and left with 40 empty seats. We expect tonight's flight to be full, as the Russian bauxite operation RUSAL is sending 150 of its family members and employees out of the country. The warden message released on February 16 included the contact information from these and other commercial airlines and asked that AmCits contact the consular section if they need additional help departing Guinea. We received only three calls overnight requesting information and none of these callers requested additional assistance. ¶6. SBU) The French Embassy organized a small aircraft to bring several citizens from Labe to Conakry February 15; one Amcit took advantage of this flight and is now in contact with our consular section. Regional airline Paramount is also provided some service to Labe. -------------- Political Update -------------- ¶7. (C) There appears to be very little movement on the political front. Rabiatou Serah Diallo, CNTG General Secretary, is reportedly facing severe criticism from other SIPDIS union leaders and members for attending the February 15 meeting with the presidents of the republican institutions and religious leaders. While there were other union members present, CNTG Vice-General Secretary Amadou Diallo refused to CONAKRY 00000187 002.3 OF 002 attend as did USTG General Secretary. We understand the union membership wants its leaders to have no contact with any government actor until President Conte lifts the state of siege. Rabiatou Diallo has reportedly received numerous death threats and has requested (and received) a detail from the Ministry of Security. In the meantime, General Kerfalla Camara has announced that the state of siege will remain in place until the unions end their strike and "stop organizing demonstrations." He linked lifting the state of siege with an accord between unions and the government. ¶8. (SBU) Although it was announced by Michel Kamano, President of the Economic and Social Council, there was no February 16 meeting between the representatives of Guinea's republican institutions, political parties, and civil society. The union leaders were asked to return to the Palais du Peuple this morning to continue negotiations. We have urged them to go, but given the firm opposition from the membership, it is unclear if they will do so. ¶9. (SBU) Former Nigerian President Babangida and ECOWAS Secretary General Chambas arrived late this morning. SIPDIS -------------- Mission Operations -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Key staff is in the office today. When Mission staff are not at work, they are on standfast at their residences. During non-curfew hours, they are allowed to go in groups to make grocery runs or to attend certain specified activities, with prior RSO notification. MCDONALD