TOGO: GILCHRIST OLYMPIO REMAINS "CAUTIOUSLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 003825

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PINR KDEM UNGA TO FR
SUBJECT: TOGO: GILCHRIST OLYMPIO REMAINS "CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC" ABOUT ELECTIONS

REF: PARIS 3274

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, 1.4 (b/d
).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Togo's UFC opposition leader Gilchrist
Olympio told us on September 13 that he remained "cautiously
optimistic" about the integrity of the upcoming October 14
legislative elections in Togo and upbeat about the UFC's
chances. He intends to travel to Ghana on September 15 and
then continue to Togo. He plans to stay in Togo during the
pre-electoral campaign period except for a visit to Burkina
Faso to consult with President Campaore regarding the
latter's intention to have ECOWAS military observers present
during the elections. He hopes that the U.S. can send a
small but symbolically important uniformed military
delegation to observe the elections. Olympio would like the
September 25 UNSC heads-of-state meeting on Africa to issue a
statement urging that the October 14 elections in Togo go
forward on a free and fair basis. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) At his request, we met on September 13 with UFC
opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio, who was relaxed and at
ease. He said that, overall, he remained "cautiously
optimistic" about the integrity of the October 14 legislative
elections in Togo and thought his party would do well if the
elections were free and fair. The UFC, he said, would field
candidates in every electoral district. Olympio himself
would not be a candidate but he said he had registered to
vote during his most recent visit to Togo. He said that
after some glitches, the computerized voter registration
system seemed to be working well and that he obtained his
voter ID card within minutes. He noted that about 3 million
Togolese had so far registered to vote, which he said was a
good sign for the opposition.


3. (C) Olympio said that the government did not seem to be
going out of its way to impede his political activities. He
noted the requirement that each candidate post a "bond"
equivalent to 300 euro -- if a candidate receives fewer than
5 percent of the vote, the sum is forfeited to the state; if
the candidate receives more than 5 percent, the money is
returned to the candidate. Olympio said this was an attempt
by the government to weed out marginal candidates, which was
fair enough, but that the UFC would have to front about USD
32,000 for all of its candidates, and this was a small but
nonetheless irritating obstacle. He indicated that the UFC
would be able to raise the money.


4. (C) Olympio said he would travel to Ghana on September
15 and then continue on to Togo. He planned to spend the
pre-electoral period in Togo, campaigning for UFC candidates.
He would, however, make one side-trip to Burkina Faso, to
discuss with President Campaore the latter's plan to have
ECOWAS troops in Togo to provide reassurance to voters and to
deter violence, either on the part of the opposition or, more
importantly, on the part of the government. Olympio hoped
that the Togolese military would not be allowed to roam at
will on election day and intimidate voters as it had done in
the past. The presence of ECOWAS soldiers would be most
useful.


5. (C) In this vein, Olympio said that he welcomed the
support the USG has shown for the electoral process,
including its sending civilian election observers. He
suggested that, in addition, the USG could consider sending a
few uniformed military personnel to serve as election
observers. There need not be a great many of them, but even
a "token" USG military presence would send a strong symbolic
message of support and concern, and thereby emphasize the
USG's interest in free and fair elections.


6. (C) Olympio referred to the UN Security Council meeting,
at heads-of-state level, scheduled to take place on September
25 during the UNGA and devoted to African topics. He
understood that issues such as Darfur would likely dominate
the agenda, but he suggested that it would be most useful if
the UNSC, operating at heads-of-state level, could issue a
statement urging the Togolese government to ensure that the
October 14 elections be conducted in a free, fair, and
transparent manner. Olympio stressed that this would be a
powerful message from the international community at the
highest level just a few weeks before the October 14 election
date.


7. (C) COMMENT: Olympio seemed even more relaxed than at
our previous meeting (reftel). Although "cautiously
optimistic," he mentioned (but only once or twice) that the
Faure Gnassingbe government could, of course, do something to

PARIS 00003825 002 OF 002


undermine the elections. Unlike previous occasions, Olympio
did not engage in any emotional diatribes about the
Gnassingbes, and referred to Faure only once, in passing, as
"le garcon." Olympio will try to contact U.S. Ambassador
Dunn while in Togo. As for his presence in Paris, Olympio
said he had interrupted his previous stay in Togo to return
to France to be with his wife during a recent cataract
operation she had had. She experienced no difficulties with
the operation, thus easing his return to Africa on September

15. END COMMENT.


Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


Stapleton