NIGER: REBELS RELEASE VICE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000559 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W DENNISON PARIS FOR AF WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PINS PGOV SOCI NG SUBJECT: NIGER: REBELS RELEASE VICE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES (CNDHLF) REF: NIAMEY 546 ¶1. On Saturday, May 24, 2008, Mouvement des Nigerien Pour la Justice (MNJ) rebels released CNDHLF Vice President Ahamadou Ahalawey and his newphew, taken hostage as reported in reftel, to the custody of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC delivered Ahalawey and his nephew to the Government of Niger authorities in Agadez. (Note: MNJ alleged on its webpage report that Ahalawey (also spelled Ehalweye) was procuring arms for the GON. End note.) ¶2. CNDHLF President Garba Lompo announced that the release of his colleague was a result of multiple demarches during the course of the past week. He expressed gratitude to the GON authorities, regional and international partners who supported the CNDHLF during the ordeal, and thanked the local and international press for publicizing the CNDHLF call for Ahalawey's release. Lompo made a plea for the MNJ to respect democratic principles, to lay down their weapons and to ask the Nigerien people for forgiveness. ALLEN