CALM RETURNS TO CONAKRY

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000681

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ELAB PGOV GV
SUBJECT: CALM RETURNS TO CONAKRY

REF: A. CONAKRY 0663

B. CONAKRY 0668

C. CONAKRY 0670

D. CONAKRY 0675

E. CONAKRY 0678


1. (SBU) Conakry has been relatively calm for more than 24
hours, following four days of civil disturbances in various
parts of the city (reftels). Vehicular traffic was operating
normally this morning throughout the city, with taxis and
buses back out on the roads. Embassy employees saw students
heading to public schools, albeit slightly later than usual.
Markets and stores were open, and people generally appeared
to be going about business as usual. Security forces were
out, but not in large numbers. Calm began to return to the
city when civil demonstrations fizzled out yesterday around
noon.


2. (SBU) There were reports of gunfire near the Presidential
Palace at approximately 0200 this morning, which quickly died
out. Available information indicates that three soldiers,
possibly in civilian dress, drove by the Presidential Palace
with their headlights on, which is strictly prohibited.
Presidential guards (Red Berets) responded by firing their
weapons into the air, and the vehicle left the scene.


3. (SBU) Labor unions plan to meet today to discuss the fuel
price issue. A senior union leader told Pol LES that the
unions will continue to pressure the GoG to reduce the price
of fuel below the 5,500 GnF mark, but did not specify the
unions' desired price level. Contact confirmed that the GoG
emphasized that it could not reduce the price further and
asked the labor unions to help the GoG inform the population.
According to contact, the union leaders told the GoG that
information is not enough, stressing that the GoG must make
some effort to improve living conditions and reduce the high
cost of living for the general population.


4. (SBU) Union contacts report that public sector bank and
insurance workers are threatening to go on strike if the GoG
does not increase their salaries. They are planning to meet
today at the Central Bank to discuss their position. A union
leader representing Guinea's teacher union told Econ LES that
public teachers are also threatening to go on strike.

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COMMENT
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5. (SBU) The immediate crisis posed by the civil
disturbances earlier this week seems to have been resolved,
at least in the short-term. The labor unions may very well
try to capitalize on the public's display of discontent to
push their own objectives in the coming weeks. However,
strike threats currently seem to be coming from individual
labor unions rather than the broader Unions-Intersyndicale,
which was responsible for the nationwide labor strike in
January 2007. The GoG's recent announcement of a costly
salary increase for the military is sure to frustrate other
government workers to whom the GoG has repeatedly made
similar, but unfulfilled promises. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC