CIVIL DISTURBANCES IN GUINEA'S CAPITAL - UNIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000010

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ASEC KDEM PREL GV
SUBJECT: CIVIL DISTURBANCES IN GUINEA'S CAPITAL - UNIONS
WARN OF STRIKES

REF: CONAKRY 0007


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A number of demonstrations and civil
disturbances flared across Conakry between 9:00 AM and 4:00
PM on January 4, following the president's January 3
dismissal of the Minister of Communication. The PM convened
an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting while political
parties, unions, and civil society groups held independent
meetings. Reportedly, the unions plan to issue a formal
declaration advising the government of their intention to
initiate a nationwide strike effective January 10. As of
4:00 PM, Embassy did not have information as to the results
of other government and civil society meetings. The
situation has generally calmed. Embassy continues to monitor
events. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Following the sequence of events detailed in reftel,
at about 8:30 PM on January 3, Radio TV Guinean announced
that President Lansana Conte had dismissed Minister of
Communication, Justin Morel Jr, and replaced him with Conte
crony, Issa Conde.


3. (SBU) Beginning around 9:00 AM on January 4, Embassy
received reports of demonstrations in certain areas of the
capital. Demonstrators reportedly threw stones and later
burned tires. Embassy staff saw anti-crime brigades on the
ground as well as armed police forces. There were a few
reports of guns being fired into the air and of demonstrators
blocking roads with concrete blocks. Embassy official saw
forces firing shots into crowds, but could not determine
whether they were firing plastic bullets or not. To date,
Embassy has not received reports of people killed. The
crowds began to dissipate around noon and the streets were
mostly clear as of 4:00 PM. The Ambassador, who was
returning from a trip up country on January 4, saw no
evidence of civil unrest outside of the capital.


4. (SBU) According to contacts, leaders of opposition
parties held a meeting at around 10:00 AM to discuss the
political situation. The ruling Party for Unity and Progress
(PUP) was not present and the Rally for the Guinean People
(RPG) party was reportedly not invited. Embassy contact told
POL LES that the parties would issue a formal declaration
around 3:00 PM local time in which they would encourage the
population to remain calm. Embassy has not yet seen this
declaration.


5. (U) The Prime Minister convened an extraordinary Council
of Ministers meeting at 12:00 PM on January 4. As of 4:00
PM, the meeting was still in session.


6. (U) Civil society organizations, under the leadership of
Ben Sekou Syllah and the National Council of Civil Society
Organizations, also met on January 4. As of 4:00 PM, Embassy
did not have any information as to the results of that
meeting.


7. (SBU) Labor union leaders met at 10:30 AM on January 4.
As of 4:00 PM, they were still meeting, but a union contact
present at the meeting told POL LES that the unions had
reached a decision and were in the process of drafting a
formal declaration. According to contacts, the unions plan
to advise the government that they will initiate a nationwide
strike effective January 10 (COMMENT. January 10 is the
anniversary of the 2007 nationwide strike. END COMMENT).
Union members reportedly see the strike as a necessary
political statement in order to emphasize that the January 27
Accords have been violated.


8. (U) In accordance with the guidance given to U.S. Embassy
personnel, the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met at 11:00
and agreed to issue a warden message. The message went out
at 11:40 AM on January 4, warning U.S. citizens of civil
disturbances and advising them to take appropriate
precautions.


9. (SBU) In response to the demonstrations and general state
of heightened political tension, the Embassy convened a
second Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting at 3:00 PM,
the details of which are reported septel.

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COMMENT
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10. (SBU) Local press has been inundated with rumor-based
reporting and widespread speculation, as have conversations
with a wide range of contacts. The events described above
represent the facts as currently understood by the Embassy.
How and if these events are connected, as well as who may be
behind them and why, remain unclear. For the time being,
tensions and civil activity appear to have diminished. The

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unions, declaration will likely help calm the population
since it will define a clear position and gives a timeframe
within which the unions and civil society can work with the
government to address concerns. As the results of other
meetings become available and as communication with key
contacts becomes easier, Embassy hopes to clarify the various
political elements and get a better sense of what may be
going on behind the scenes. END COMMENT.
CARTER