EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS PLANNED OCTOBER 5 PROTESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000558 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2013 TAGS: PREL ASEC CASC MR SUBJECT: EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS PLANNED OCTOBER 5 PROTESTS Classified By: CDA Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (U) On October 5, 2008, the Charge convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting to discuss protests in Nouakchott planned for the afternoon (4:00 pm) of the 5th by the anti-coup National Front for the Preservation of Democracy (FNDD). ¶2. (C) Charge Meetings with Opposition: Charge met October 4 with FNDD co-leader Mohamed Ould Maouloud and President of the National Assembly Messaoud Ould Boulkheir. Both confirmed the opposition's intent to go forward with the anti-coup protest the afternoon of October 5 despite a ban imposed by the authorities. Ould Maouloud said the FNDD felt obliged to preserve the principle of the right of protest. He said the coalition had done its best to respect the need for public order -- giving the Nouakchott governor ("wali") and mayor a week's advance notice and offering to alter venue, route and timing if needed for safety. The governor had responded that, "Unfortunately, a decision has been taken to ban all political protests." Ould Maouloud expected the FNDD protest would likely be relatively small with only party members participating -- the general population being scared away. He anticipated that the junta would attempt to block the gathering and that the protest would likely result in multiple arrests -- including his own. He said the FNDD was taking the calculated risk that the junta would not resort to violence on the eve of possible African Union sanctions and next weeks consultations with the European Union. Ould Boulkheir told Charge he saw the protest as necessary to maintain internal pressure on the regime as the international community applies external pressure. He had recommended multiple and simultaneous protests in all nine districts of Nouakchott but the FNDD leadership had opted for a single event. Ould Boulkheir said he would not physically participate in the protest in order to maintain some flexibility as leader of the National Assembly. ¶3. (C) The EAC is aware (as briefed by RSO) of the current security situation in Nouakchott, to include increased police presence (typical for such events) at several government facilities and at various traffic intersections within the city. No further augmentation of police and/or military has been observed. ¶4. (SBU) While the EAC is currently unaware of any information to indicate a specific threat to the Embassy or Embassy community, it has decided to issue a Warden Message in the interest of personal safety, to all Americans. The Charge authorized early release at 2:00 pm to allow personnel to get home unfettered prior to the beginning of the protest. ¶5. (U) EAC Nouakchott will continue to monitor this situation and respond accordingly. HANKINS