MUTINY LEADER TORTURES SIX CAMEROONIANS

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000727 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: MUTINY LEADER TORTURES SIX CAMEROONIANS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. According to local press and independent sources, mutiny leader Claude Pivi authorized the torture of six Cameroonian citizens for four hours on November 21 at Camp Alpha Yaya, a military camp. Graphic photos depicting extensive burns and skin abrasions on one victim were printed in a local newspaper. The GoG has not reacted to the incident. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) La Lance, a local independent newspaper known for its often satirical reporting style, printed an article on November 26 detailing an incident of torture that occurred on November 21. Sous-Lieutenant Claude Pivi, the controversial leader of the May military mutiny, and five members of his entourage reportedly took six Cameroonian nationals into custody and then transported them to Camp Alpha Yaya where they tortured them for four hours. The newspaper printed several graphic photographs showing burns and abrasions all over one victim's body. DATT contacts later confirmed various details reported in the article. ¶3. (U) According to the article's author, Pivi and his entourage were dining at a restaurant in Matam (Conakry). After leaving the restaurant, Pivi discovered that his vehicle was missing a side view mirror and then accused the six Cameroonians of stealing it. He immediately had his men seize the victims, remove their clothes, beat them, and then toss them into the back of the vehicle. ¶4. (U) Pivi took the victims to Camp Alpha Yaya where he turned them over to approximately 30 of his men. He reportedly ordered his men to torture the Cameroonians. The victims reported being beaten, forced to crawl naked across burning coals, whipped fifty times each, and then having burning plastic bags tossed on their bodies. They said that while some of them were being beaten, soldiers threw water on the others' wounds. When they were finally released, they were told that they could not speak of the incident or they would be killed. ¶5. (U) The article specifically named the six victims: Enama Conrad (32 years old),N'Goko Abdou (20),Djedjouo Ngou Ernest (31),Nganko N'Guy Merlin (33),Mory Djeli Doumbouya (33),and Tadiewa Leonel (28). The victims reported that Pivi stole approximately $500, 400,000 GnF, 100,000 CFA, three cell phones, and one Cameroonian passport. ¶6. (U) Cameroon does not have diplomatic representation in Guinean, but has reportedly expressed its government's outrage at the incident through its diplomatic representation in Senegal. ¶7. (SBU) A military contact told DATT that the generals, who had just returned from a trip to China on November 28, met on November 29 to discuss the incident. Contact's assessment was that military leadership did not know what to do to control Pivi. Contact speculated that the GoG is afraid of Pivi and worried that any action taken against him could spark another military mutiny. ¶8. (SBU) Other DATT contacts commented that Pivi is out of control and that members of his entourage may now be acting without Pivi's permission and/or knowledge. Contacts said that Pivi and members of his entourage are regularly using cocaine, which is being supplied to them by the president's son and known drug trafficker, Ousmane Conte. One contact noted that Pivi was supposed to have been in N'Zerekore on November 21 for his mother's funeral, but that he was so strung out on drugs that he did not go. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) This is the second time the Embassy has received reports of Pivi torturing people. The first incident reportedly occurred during the May military mutiny when Pivi authorized the torture of dozens of captured police officers. Pivi has been increasingly brazen in recent months and the lack of response from the Ministry of Defense suggests that the government may be unwilling to confront him. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC