CAR NATIONAL DIALOGUE - DECEMBER 8 PRESS COMMENTS,

UNCLAS BANGUI 000234


AF/C FOR SSARDAR, MASHRAF, SLOPEZ, KWYCOFF; PARIS FOR RKANEDA;
LONDON FOR PLORD; YAOUNDE FOR POL/ECON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR ECON EAID CT
SUBJECT: CAR NATIONAL DIALOGUE - DECEMBER 8 PRESS COMMENTS,
OPPOSITION STATEMENT

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IN THE NEWS
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1. (U) Most CAR private and official media focused on the
political dialogue which began with an opening ceremony this
Monday, December 08:


2. (U) The private newspaper `Hirondelle' reports that MLCJ
rebel leader Abakar Sabone and former CAR President Ange Filix
Patassi have arrived in Bangui and are getting ready in the
`starting block of peace': The cartoon of the front page of
this newspaper shows Patassi climbing the stairs of the National
Assembly Palace. The paper also noted some discrepancies in the
organization the forum (badges not yet issued, incomplete
budget, late arrival of some guests, etc).


3. (U) The private newspaper `Le Dimocrate' mentioned the return
of former President Ange-Felix Patassi, an event which,
according to the paper, is giving insomnia to some people who
were close to Patassi and then betrayed him to join President
Bozize (for selfish gains).


4. (U) The newspaper `Le Confident' features the `Big Start' of
the CAR Political Dialogue and announces the arrival of
President Ange-Felix Patassi, while revealing that former
President Andri Kolingba is currently on a sick leave in Paris,
wondering if he will ever take part in this important national
forum? The paper also commented the individual and the global
peace agreements signed by the government and rebel leader
Abakar Sabone on Sunday, December 7, recalling in another
article the history and various episodes of the political
dialogue announced by President Bozize in December 2006. The
paper also published a transcript of an interview with the
former President of the CAR Human Rights League, Mr. Nicolas
Tiangaye, now the President of a newly formed political party.
Mr. Tiangaye expresses optimism on the forthcoming political
dialogue, provided all players forget their individual interests
and show the political will to resolve their differences and
work for the common cause.


5. (U) The private newspaper `Le Citoyen' announced in its
editorial page that Bangui is living in the rhythm of the
Political dialogue. It also announced the return of former
President Patassi, who was flown immediately upon his arrival in
CAR to Boali, about 80 kilometers from Bangui, on a military
base where he will stay under the protection of MICOPAX Forces.
`Le Citoyen' also published the exclusive Memorandum of the
opposition parties, describing their rationale for the failure
of Bozize's regime since 2003 and the goals for political
dialogue, translated and summarized below.

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DECLARATION FROM THE OPPOSITION
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6. (U) In light of the inclusive political dialogue scheduled to
take place from December 8 to 22, 2008, the UFVN, the coalition
of the major CAR opposition political parties, issued a
memorandum entitled 'Why an Inclusive Political Dialogue?' on
December 7. The following is a translation and summary of the
major points in this declaration:


7. (U) BEGIN TEXT: Noting the extreme deterioration in the
security, political, economic, social and humanitarian situation
in the country, which reveals the failure of Bozize's regime,
the UFVN called for an inclusive political dialogue through a
memorandum issued on June 8, 2006. According to the UFVN,
Bozize's regime denied the obvious of the extreme situation and
made the choice of a policy characterized by arrogance, contempt
and exclusion. As a result, several rebel groups started to
operate throughout the country particularly in the northwest and
northeast and threatened to seize power. It was in these
circumstances that President Bozize was forced to accept the
idea of this dialogue on December 31, 2006.


8. (U) Justification of the March 15, 2003 coup

The UFVN noted that Francois Bozize toppled Patasse's
democratically elected regime for the following reasons: Spread
insecurity throughout the country; Growing extreme poverty among
the population; and Bad governance.

2003 Political dialogue

From September 9 to October 27, 2003, 350 delegates from all of
the country's regions, different segments of the Central African
society reviewed all the problems the country was facing and
adopted 828 resolutions during this political dialogue. During
the closing ceremony of this forum, President Bozize committed
to have the government implement as soon as possible all these
resolutions. UFVN notes that the implementation of most of these
resolutions did not involve fund mobilization. As of today only
15% of these resolutions have been implemented.


9. (U) President Bozize's track record

On the political side

Even after being elected in 2005, Francois Bozize continues to
see the March 15, 2003 coup as the most important event of his
regime. Others argue that the confiscation of the state power by
President Bozize's clan and ethnicity has revealed the absence
of democratic governance. The UFVN accuses the Bozize regime of:

* Hatred for political parties
* Attempt to control all other institutions supposed to be
independent from the executive branch including the national
assembly, the judiciary, more particularly the constitutional
court, and the high council of magistrates, human rights
organizations and private press.
* Continued violation of the Constitution
* Refusal to permit the independence of the judiciary


10. (U) On security side

When he entered into rebellion in 2001, Bozize created a lack of
security throughout the country. However, the March 15, 2003
coup was followed by a general deterioration of the security
situation in the country. As a military officer Bozize failed to
eradicate insecurity. He even did not remember that during the
presidential elections campaign he declared himself to be the
most qualified to deal with security issues.

Restructuring of the army: President Bozize constantly refused
to implement measures adopted by the national dialogue held in
2003 to reform the security sector. He promoted a military
recruitment favoring members of his ethnicity and clan. As
result the national army does not exist any more, leaving the
space to undisciplined, incompetent and corrupted and highly
politicized troops.


11. (U) On the human rights side

Bozize's regime established a culture of violence and impunity
among his military supporters. There is no need to remind the
massive killings conducted by the presidential guard and some
FACA members reporting to President Bozize only. These killings
were reported by many human rights organizations. The military
officers responsible of these killings were never punished.


12. (U) On economic side

Bozize's rebellion and his March 15, 2003 coup resulted in the
destruction of economic and social infrastructure throughout the
country, estimated at USD 41 billion. This destruction included
roads construction equipment, cotton plants, schools and
hospitals in several regions of the country.
In addition, military operations conducted in the northwest,
northwest and the displacement of the population contributed to
destabilize the agricultural sector activities vital to the
Central African economy.

Bozize's regime failed to conduct appropriate economic and
public finance management reforms.


13. (U) On the social front

Accumulation of salary, pensions and students scholarships;
Poverty expanded among the population.


14. (U) Conclusion: The UFVN did not invent the political
inclusive dialogue. The political inclusive dialogue is a
requirement as it is part of the Central African Constitution.
Various segments of Central African society including youth and
various churches recommended the dialogue as a means to solve
the problem of rebellion in this country. The dialogue should be
inclusive in order to benefit the people cohesion. To give this
Dialogue a chance, precise objectives with specific strategies
to reach them should be put in place. END TEXT
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