CHAD CHRONICLE: SEPT 15-26, 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000441 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 15-26, 2008 -------------- -------------- EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO LEAVE CHAD -------------- -------------- ¶1. THERE WAS MUCH PRESS DISCUSSSION DURING THE WEEK REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE BY AN EXPANDED UNITED NATIONS PRESENCE. DESPITE GIVING SPACE TO OXFAM CRITICISMS SAYING THAT NO IMPROVEMENT OF THE SECURITY SITUATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS OXFAM'S ALLEGATION THAT NGOS CONTINUE TO BE THREATENED, THE MEDIA WAS GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT EUFOR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE PROPSED FOLLOW-ON ARRANGEMENTS. -------------- -------------- THE CASE OF HISSEIN HABRE IN SENEGAL -------------- -------------- ¶2. FOURTEEN (14) VICTIMS OF FORMER CHADIAN PRESIDENT HISSEIN HABRE (12 CHADIANS AND 2 SENEGALESE) FILED A NEW COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM IN DAKAR. LAWYER JACQUELINE MOUDEINA SAID THAT THE COMPLAINT ARISES FROM THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS PERPETRATED BY HABRE'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (OFFICE OF DOCUMENTATION AND SECURITY - DDS). VICTIMS BELIEVE THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR A VALID TRIAL IN 2008 ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN 2000 WHEN THEY FIRST SOUGHT REDRESS. -------------- -------------- INSECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶3. POLICE HAVE RESUMED FOOT PATROLS IN N'DJAMENA IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS LIMITED VEHICLE ACCESS. AS A RESULT OF THE PATROLS NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, GENERAL MAHAMT ACHAKIR YOUSSOUF, TOLD THE PRESS THAT CROOKS WERE ARRESTED. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THEIR ACTIVITIES CONTINUE. ADDITIONALLY, CHAD AND CAMEROON HAVE JOINED EFFORTS TO INTERDICT MOVEMENT OF BANDITS AND RUSTLERS ACROSS THEIR COMMON BORDER. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR OF CHAD'S WEST MAYO KEBBI PROVINCE, MR. HISSEIN AHMAT DJIMET, THE SITUATION IS NOW UNDER CONTROL. -------------- -------------- PREPARATION OF THE GENERAL BUDGET FOR CHAD IN 2009 -------------- -------------- ¶4. NEW MINISTER OF FINANCE, GATA NGOULOU, SAID THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REDUCE EXPENDITURES IN 2009. HE SAID MILITARY COSTS ARE TOO HIGH AND THE INSTITUTION OF BETTER CONTROLS CAN SAVE MONEY. MINISTERIAL MEETINGS TO FRAME THE BUDGET FOR 2009 ARE UNDERWAY. -------------- -------------- EDUCATION -------------- -------------- ¶5. STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF N'DJAMENA PROMISE TO STRIKE IF THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOT PAID BEFORE SEPTEMBER 25, 2008. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PAID STIPENDS FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. -------------- -------------- BAD MILK -------------- -------------- ¶6. THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS, ADC, WARNED THE POPULATION AGAINST THE USE OF CHINESE MILK. REPORTEDLY CHAD IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED TAINTED MILK. ALTHOUGH NO POISONINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED, CONSUMERS WERE ASKED TO BE VIGILANT. -------------- -------------- ECONOMY -------------- -------------- ¶7. THE BANK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES, BDEAC, ORGANIZED AN "OPEN HOUSE" ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 IN N'DJAMENA TO EXPLAIN TO CHADIAN BUSINESSMEN THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING PROJECT LOANS. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING PROJECTS, THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR INITIAL FEASIBLITY STUDIES. FOR THE PERIOD OF 2008 - 2012, 220 BILLION CFA ARE AVAILABLE TO FUND PROJECTS IN THE CEMAC ZONE. -------------- -------------- MEDIA -------------- -------------- ¶8. THE ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE PRESS EDITORS MET TO DISCUSS HIGHER PRODUCTION COSTS LINKED TO A JUMP IN PRINTING CHARGES LEVIED BY PRINTERS. EDITORS PREVIOUSLY COMPLANTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF NDJAMENA 00000441 002 OF 002 THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS, EXPLAINING THAT CENSORSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE SECURITY CRISIS IN N'DJAMENA LAST FEBRUARY 2008 COUPLED WITH COST AUGMENTATIONS RISKS THE LOSS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN CHAD. GRIBBIN