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