Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY691
2008-11-10 16:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

GOG RELEASES YOUTH PROTESTORS FROM PRISON

Tags:  PHUM ASEC PGOV GV 
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VZCZCXRO7727
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0691 3151626
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101626Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3142
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000691 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: GOG RELEASES YOUTH PROTESTORS FROM PRISON

REF: A. CONAKRY 0663

B. CONAKRY 0668

C. CONAKRY 0670

D. CONAKRY 0675

E. CONAKRY 0678

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000691

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: GOG RELEASES YOUTH PROTESTORS FROM PRISON

REF: A. CONAKRY 0663

B. CONAKRY 0668

C. CONAKRY 0670

D. CONAKRY 0675

E. CONAKRY 0678


1. (SBU) According to a local prisoner advocacy NGO, the
Guinean police arrested approximately 100 youth protestors
last week during a series of civil disturbances (reftels).
These detainees were transferred from detention centers
across the city to the Conakry Central Prison on November 7.
Contact said that many of the detainees had been severely
beaten and were hungry because they had not been fed for some
time. She added that 29 of the detainees had fallen ill and
were treated at the NGO's medical facility located at the
prison.


2. (SBU) Contact reported that the GoG released 89 of the
detainees over the weekend. She said that many of those
released are related to military personnel who intervened on
their behalf. Another NGO contact reported that there are
still about a dozen detainees being held.


3. (SBU) Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report on
November 7 urging the Guinean Government to ensure that
security forces use restraint in responding to street
protests. HRW cited independent interviews with witnesses
who claimed that security forces opened fire directly on
protestors in order to disperse them. HRW adds that security
forces also detained and beat numerous protestors, and robbed
ordinary residents living within the affected neighborhoods.


4. (SBU) Embassy contacts and media reports indicate that
four people were killed during last week's violence.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) Multiple sources have reported that security forces
were severely beating protestors during last week's civil
demonstrations. However, available information suggests that
unlike in the past, security forces generally avoided firing
directly at protestors. The casualty count suggests that
security forces were relatively restrained by Guinean
standards, albeit not by U.S. standards. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC