Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY844
2007-07-23 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

PRIVATE SECTOR CALCULATES ECONOMIC LOSS FROM STRIKES

Tags:  ECON ELAB PHUM GV 
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VZCZCXRO0136
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0844 2041557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231557Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1424
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000844 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM GV
SUBJECT: PRIVATE SECTOR CALCULATES ECONOMIC LOSS FROM STRIKES


UNCLAS CONAKRY 000844

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM GV
SUBJECT: PRIVATE SECTOR CALCULATES ECONOMIC LOSS FROM STRIKES



1. SUMMARY. A local business group released the first report in
Guinea calculating property damage and economic losses resulting
from the strikes earlier this year. The damages claimed by the 418
participants in the report total nearly 1% of the FY07 fiscal
receipts for the country. Actual losses are likely much higher
since the report focuses narrowly on a small sample in the capital.
Victims claimed that Guinea's armed forces were responsible for 70%
of total property losses and 97% of casualties. END SUMMARY.


2. On July 19, Econoff attended the Groupe O.G.D.H. (Organisation
Guineenne de Defense des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen) pour les
Hommes d'Affaires (GOHA) ceremony for release of its final report on
destruction of private businesses and property during the protests
in January-February and May. During the ceremony, the President of
GOHA, Mohamed Cherif, hand-delivered a copy of the report to the
Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, M.

SIPDIS
Sekou Keita. Keita announced the creation of an Independent
Commission to look into crimes committed during the protests and
said he would forward them a copy of the GOHA report. He invited
complainants to file cases with the new Commission


3. Detailing the losses suffered by the private sector during the
period of unrest, the GOHA study is based upon the testimony of 418
victims. The total damage to these victims is estimated at US $7.7
million, representing nearly 1% of total gross receipts in the FY07
budget.


4. GOHA is a private business organization, but is also affiliated
with local human rights organizations. While this report focuses on
property damage and economic losses, it also lists 41 cases of
wounds suffered and 14 cases of deaths due to the unrest. These
numbers reflect the testimonies of the 418 victims interviewed by
GOHA and do not reflect a comprehensive accounting of all
casualties.


5. According to the report, 70% of the losses caused by looting were
the result of acts of government forces, while 30% of the damage was
caused by the protestors. On the other hand, 97% of the physical
injuries and deaths were caused by the forces of order, and 3% by
the strikers.


6. The President of the National Assembly, M. Sampore, publicly
stated on March 28 that all victims would receive fair compensation.
This report is the first to calculate the economic damages from the
unrest earlier this year.

KAEUPER