CHAD CHRONICLE: Nov 10-14

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000526 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: Nov 10-14 -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶1. CHAD-SUDAN RELATIONS AND REGIONAL COOPERATION -------------- -------------- -------------- ---CHAD AND SUDAN EXCHANGED AMBASSADORS DURING THE WEEK. 2008. CHADIAN AMBASSADOR TO SUDAN, BAHARADINE HAROUN, WENT TO KHARTOUM ON A LIBYAN FLIGHT AND SUDANESE AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH CHEICKH RETURNED ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT. --- "PRESIDENT EL BECHIR SENDS MESSAGE OF PEACE", SAID LE PROGRES OF NOVEMBER 12, NOTING THAT A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT BECHIR WAS RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT DEBY EARLY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, SHORTLY BEFORE THE OPENING IN N'DJAMENA OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF EXPERTS OF THE CONTACT GROUP IN CHARGE OF THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE DAKAR AGREEMENT. ABOUT 50 DELEGATES FROM MEMBERCOUNTRIES OF THE CONTACT GROUP ARE TAKING PART IN THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE CREATION OF A JOINT PATROL FORCE TO BE DEPLOYED ON THE BORDER BETWEEN CHAD AND SUDAN. -------------- ABOUT 60 LAWYERS FROM 17 AFRICAN COUNTRIES ATTENDED A CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGH FRANCOPHONE JURISDICTIONS (ASSOCIATION AFRICAINE DES HAUTES JURISDICTION). THE CONFERENCE DISCUSSED METHODS AND MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTING LEGAL DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE HIGH LEGAL INSTITUTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. -------------- A SCIENTIFIC COLLOQUIUM ENTITTLED "BEING A CHILD IN CHAD" SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY INSTITUTIONAL ROLES FOR IMPROVING THE LOT OF CHILDREN NATIONWIDE. ONE PARTICIPANT TOLD THE NEWSPAPER THAT THE "ZOE ARK INNCIDENT " WAS A GALVINIZING FORCE THAT PUSHED THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE. --- -------------- ¶2. SOCIAL -------------- ---ON THE FRONT PAGE, L'OBSERVATEUR OF NOV. 12, 2008 HIGHLIGHTED EXPLOITATION OF JOB SEEKERS BY THE CIVIL SERVANTS AT THE MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, ANYBODY WISHING TO BE HIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT MUST PAY ILLEGAL FEES RANGING FROM 150,000 TO 800,000 CFA ($300-$1,600) BEFORE BEING CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT. WHILE QUALIFIED GRADUATES ARE SHUNTED ASIDE , UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE, HAVING NO LEGITIMATE DEGREE, ARE IMMEDIATELY HIRED AFTER PAYING THE AMOUNT REQUESTED. -------------- THROUGHOUT THE CITY PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS ARE INCREASING, BUT THE PRICE OF CHARCOAL, THE UNIQUE SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR COOKING IN MOST HOUSEHOLDS, HAS TRIPLED. DESPITE EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL CHARCOL PRICES, REALITY ON THE GROUND SHOWS THAT SELLERS OF THE CHARCOAL ARE PROFITING AND SELLING HIGHER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ESTABLISHED PRICE. CHARCOAL HAS BECOME QUITE DIFFICULT TO FIND. -------------- AFTER THREE WEEKS OF STRIKE, THE UNION OF THE CHADIAN STUDENTS CALLED FOR THE RESUMPTION OF CLASSES. THEY DECIDED UNANIMOUSLY TO RESUME CLASSES AFTER BEING PAID THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WERE SIX MONTHS IN ARREARS. HOWEVER, ADMINISTRATORS AND LECTURERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF N'DJAMENA WONDERED IF THE SCHOOL YEAR CAN STILL BE SAVED OR WHETHER THEY WILL HAVE TO ABANDON IT AND START WITH THE NEW ONE "2008 - 2009". -- A NOMAD CARAVAN OF THIRTY TO FIFTY CAMELS WITH TENTS PERCHED ON TOP TRANSITED NDJAMENA OVER THE PAST WEEKEND. PROBABLY GORAN OR ARAB. THE SEVERAL HUNDRED TRADITIONAL CHADIANS LIVING LIFE AS THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE FOR GENERATIONS WERE AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE IN THE CITY AND VICE VERSA. --- IN AN ARTICLE ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE REFUGEES AND THE DISPLACED IN EASTERN CHAD, N'DJAMENA BI-HEBDO DESCRIBED THAT, DESPITE ALL THE EFFORTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF AN END TO INSECURITY. WARLORDS AND OTHER ARMED BANDITS CONTINUE TO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN CHAD AND SUDAN. THE STORY GREW OUT OF A SEMINAR ORGANIZED IN ABECHE BY THE CHADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEAGUE. REGARDING DEMOCRATIZATION, THE PRESIDENT OF LTDH, MR. MASSALBAYE TENEBAYE SAID DEMOCRACY IN CHAD IS "MOVING BACKWARD." ¶3. ECONOMY -- PRESIDENT DEBY TURNED OVER THE FIRST SPADEFUL OF DIRT MARKING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FORTY-MILE PAVED ROAD BETWEEN MASSAGUET AND NDJAMENA 00000526 002 OF 002 MASSAKORY. PART OF THE TRANS-SAHARAN ROUTE, THE IMPROVED ROAD WILL IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE LAKE REGION NORTH OF NDJAMENA. -- THE FAMININE EARLY WARNING REPRESENTATIVE IN CHAD ADVISED THAT THE CURRENT HARVEST NATIONWIDE WOULD REPREESENT AN INCREASE OF 2.6 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ALSO A GOOD YEAR. OVERALL FOOD PRODUCTION IN CHAD HAS RISEN OVER FIFTEEN PERCENT FROM LOWS OF FIVE YEARS AGO. NIGRO