CHAD CHRONICLE: SEPT 8-12, 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000411

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF, AF/C, AF/EPS,
AND AF/RSA
ADDIS ALSO FOR AU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF ECON PHUM UN LY CT CD
SUBJECT: CHAD CHRONICLE: SEPT 8-12, 2008

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TWENTY-TWO (22) RFC OFFICERS RETURN TO NDJAMENA
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1. FOLLOWING SIGNATURE ON AUGUST 18, 2008 OF A PROTOCOL ANNEXED TO
THE SIRTE ACCORD, 22 OFFICERS FROM THE REBEL "RASSEMBLEMENT DES
FORCES DE CHANGEMENT" (RFC) ARRIVED IN NDJAMENA TO BEGIN
REINTEGRATION INTO GOVERNMENT SERVICE. THE DELEGATION WAS LED BY
COLONEL ISAACK BACHAR TOGOU, RFC'S DEFENSE COMMISSIONER. HE DECLARED
THAT OTHER SOLDIERS OF HIS GROUP WITH 80 VEHICLES ARE CAMPED NEAR
IRIBA, WAITING FOR THEIR REINTEGRATION IN THE CHADIAN NATIONAL ARMY
OR CIVIL SERVICE. COMMENTING ON THE NOW EX-REBELS, MR. ADBDERAHMAN
MOUSSA, NATIONAL MEDIATOR, SAID THAT THEIR WISE DECISION SHOULD
INSPIRE OTHER CHADIANS WHO ARE STILL IN REBELLION. HE HOPED THAT
OTHER GROUPS WOULD IMITATE THE RFC IN DAYS TO COME. COLONEL TOGOU
WAS ONE OF THE REBEL CHIEFS CONVICTED BY THE GOC RECENTLY AND
SENTENCED; TOGOU'S REHABILITATION INDICATES THAT THE GOC IS FLEXIBLE
IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

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THE CPDC REACTS TO THE INVESTIGATION REPORT
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2. IN A PRESS RELEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2008, MEMBERS OF THE
"COORDINATION DES PARTIES POUR LA DEFENSE DE LA CONSTITUTION" (CPDC
- COORDINATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE
CONSITUTION) DEPLORED THE FACT THAT THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON THE
FEBRUARY EVENTS FAILED TO SHED LIGHT ON THE FATE OF THE
COORDINATION'S SPOKESPERSON, MR. IBNI OUMAR MAHAMAT SALEH. THE CPDC
OBSERVED THAT IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT MR. SALEH WAS KIDNAPPED BY
MILITARY OFFICERS ACTING UNDER THE DIRECT ORDERS OF PRESIDENT DEBY.
THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THE CPDC, DEBY AND THE "POWERS THAT TRAIN
THE CHADIAN ARMY AND PROVIDE ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS USED TO PERPETRATE
BIG-SCALE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS" (I.E. THE FRENCH) SHOULD TELL THE
TRUTH ABOUT MR. SALEH'S FATE. THE CPDC APPEALED TO FRENCH PRESIDENT
NICOLAS SARKOZY TO INTERVENE IN ORDER TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH. THEY
VOWED TO UNDERTAKE JUDICIAL ACTION, INCLUDING BEFORE INTERNATIONAL
COURTS TO INSURE THAT THESE ACTS DO NOT REMAIN UNPUNISHED.


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CHAD ENGAGES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
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3. THE CHADIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HELD A 5-DAY SEMINAR ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND UN SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS ON TERRORISM. THE SEMINAR WAS ORGANIZED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS DRUG AND CRIME OFFICE (UNDCO).
IT WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 8 BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MR ALINGUE
BAWOYEU. SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS REVIEWED CHADIAN LAWS IN CONJUCTION
WITH INTERNATIONAL LAWS ON TERRORISM. THEY EXPLORED U.N. SECURITY
COUNCIL'S RESOLUTIONS ON AL-QAIDA, THE TALIBAN, ASSOCIATED
INDIVIVUALS AND INSTITUTIONS. IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, MR. ALINGUE
DECLARED THAT THE AIM OF THE SEMINAR WAS TO "EXAMINE EXTRADITION AND
JUDICIAL COOPERATION MECHANISMS, EITHER BETWEEN COURTS OR THROUGH
INTERPOL." HE PROMISED THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS WOULD BE
ORGANIZED FOR CHADIAN MAGISTRATES AND MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIAL
POLICE.

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WORLD BANK PULLS OUT OF CHAD-CAMEROON PIPELINE PROJECT
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4. THE WORLD BANK ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 9 THE WITHDRAWAL OF
PARTICIPATION IN FINANCING THE CHAD-CAMEROON PIPELINE BECAUSE THE
CHADIAN GOVERNEMENT FAILED TO USE OIL REVENUES FOR POVERTY
REDUCTION. THE BANK REPORTED THAT THE CHADIAN GOVERNMENT FULLY
PREPAID THE PIPELINE-RELATED LOAN AS OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2008. THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE BANK FOLLOWS YEARS OF TENSION FOLLOWING WITH THE
INITIAL AGREEMENT IN 2001 TO FINANCE CHAD'S AND CAMEROON'S
PARTICIPATION IN THE TWO PIPELINE COMPANIES, A SMALL PART OF THE
OVERALL INANCING OF THE PIPELINE PROJECT. NONETHELESS, THE BANK
OFFERED TO CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH CHAD "IF THE GOVERNMENT OF CHAD
WISHES TO FOCUS ITS ENERGIES ON A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT INCLUSIVE
DEVELOPMENT TO OVERCOME POVERTY, ASSIST DISPLACED PEOPLE, IMPROVE
GOVERNANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS TO ACHIEVE RESULTS." IN REACTION TO
THIS DECISION, THE CHADIAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PLANNING, MR.
MATTAR BREME, DECLARED THAT "CHAD HAS NOT, IN ANY WAY, DECIDED TO
CUT RELATIONS [WITH THE WB]. THERE HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTANDINGS
REGARDING THE OIL REVENUE LAW... OUR PARTNERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY
WILL NO LONGER PARTICIPATE IN THAT AGREEMENT. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO

NDJAMENA 00000411 002 OF 002


CONTINUE COOPERATION OUTSIDE THE OIL SECTOR."


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OXFAM ACCUSES UN-EU FORCES OF FAILING TO PROTECT CIVILIANS
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5. OXFAM CHARGED THAT THE UN-EU PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN CHAD IS
UNABLE TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY'S CIVILIANS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF
DELAYS, BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES, AND LACK OF COORDINATION. THE
PEACEKEEPING MISSION ESTABLISHED BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN
SEPTEMBER 2007 COMPRISES A UN POLICE-GOVERNANCE-HUMAN RIGHTS
COMPONENT, MINURCAT (IN CHARGE OF SECURITY INSIDE THE CAMPS),AND
THE EU MILITARY FORCE, EUFOR (IN CHARGE OF GENERAL SECURITY). OXFAM
WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF MINURCAT, NOTING THAT JUST 320 CHADIAN
POLICE HAVE BEEN TRAINED SO FAR. "THIS LAW AND ORDER VACUUM HAS
RESULTED IN MUSHROOMING ATTACKS ON AID WORKERS AND CIVILIANS AS
BANDITS REALISE THEY CAN ROB AND KILL WITHOUT FEAR," OXFAM SAID.
OXFAM'S HUMANITARIAN POLICY ADVISER, ELISE FORD, SPEAKING FROM
BRUSSELS, URGED THE E.U. TO "TAKE GREATER RESOPONSIBILITY FOR THE
SUCCESS OF THE WHOLE, NOT JUST EUFOR."

NIGRO