THE FNDD'S TAWASSOUL PARTY: STILL CONFIDENT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 000722

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MR
SUBJECT: THE FNDD'S TAWASSOUL PARTY: STILL CONFIDENT OF
VICTORY

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 707

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: Members of the moderate Islamist party
Tawassoul expressed strong anti-coup sentiments and faith
that their efforts to fight the military regime would
eventually lead to its downfall. They rejected accusations
by the High State Council (military junta) that they are
"extremists." They called on the United States to use its
international prestige and clout to lean on the Europeans and
Chinese, and were disappointed by U.S. presence at the
Mauritanian National Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
End summary.


2. (C) PolAsst met Tawassoul party members in charge of
external relations Saleck Ould Mohamed Moussa, Dr. Amar Ould
Mohamed Najem, and Dr. Aminetou Mint Etchagha El Mokhtar
December 4 at party headquarters. Tawassoul, a moderate
Islamic party, currently holds the rotating presidency of the
anti-coup FNDD (National Front for the Defense of Democracy),
and has been a vocal opponent of General Aziz and the High
State Council.


3. (C) A fragile democracy: El Mokhtar began by stating
that Mauritania had a fragile democratic system under
President Abdallahi, but it was democracy nonetheless, in
contrast to the artificial "African-style democracy" under
President Taya. Despite their knowledge that Abdallahi was
the military's preferred candidate, Tawassoul accepted his
election because of the free and transparent elections, and
because they hoped his election would lead to lasting
democracy in the country. Their hopes were bolstered when
Abdallahi legalized Islamist political parties for the first
time in Mauritania's history. Becoming visibly emotional, El
Mokhtar said, "I began to experience true liberty for the
first time in my life, and it is hard to let go of it."


4. (C) Sharp critique of the regime: Turning to the current
situation, El Mokhtar and Najem condemned military leaders as
too involved in politics and too busy "manipulating deputies"
to do their real job of protecting the country. Citing the
terrorist attacks where several Mauritanian soldiers were
killed, Najem noted the military "cannot even defend our own
borders," much less run the country. El Mokhtar mentioned
recent price drops undertaken by the junta, noting that such
economic populism was unsustainable and a "mistake." Najem
criticized the hypocrisy of the junta's promises to root out
corruption and mismanagement, stating "the ones over there"
(nodding towards the Presidential Palace) were the worst
offenders.


5. (C) Charges of extremism: Responding to the accusations
of the High State Council and others that Tawassoul was
connected to or composed of Islamic extremists, El Mokhtar
said it was a lack of democracy and justice that creates
extremism and the need to work in secret. "When you can
express yourself freely, there is no need to work in secret,"
El Mokhtar said. Despite Taya's fierce suppression of
Islamists, they struggled peacefully to express themselves.
"We are Islamists, true, but we are moderate Islamists,"
Najem added. Holding no illusions about their own situation
under the military junta, Najem said, "We will be the first
victims" if the coup is allowed to succeed.


6. (C) Working with others: Najem described the anti-coup
FNDD coalition as "well-organized" and having been a positive
experience. Conceding that compromises were sometimes
necessary given the disparate groups comprising the FNDD,
Najem nevertheless said he was optimistic and that it was
"only a matter of time" until they triumphed and restored
democratic order. Note: On December 3 the anti-coup forces
broadened their umbrella, adding labor unions, NGOs, and
civil society organizations to their coalition and branding
it the "Coordination of Democratic Forces." It is expected
this broadened coalition will allow for better-coordinated
and larger protest marches in the future, comprising numerous
anti-coup groups. The FNDD will continue to be the political

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face of the anti-coup movement. End note.


7. (C) Torture allegations by Amnesty International: Asked
for a reaction to the December 3 Amnesty International report
that described widespread abuse and torture by Mauritanian
security forces, El Mokhtar and Najem acknowledged torture
was thought to be common, having heard rumors of broken arms
and similar mistreatment of prisoners. El Mokhtar went on to
say, "I've seen it (torture) with my own eyes" during
peaceful demonstrations against the coup, when marchers were
hit by police, beat with truncheons, and tear-gassed.


8. (C) The way forward: When asked for a solution to the
present crisis, all three party members were unanimous: the
return of legitimacy and constitutional order. After that
has occurred, they would be ready to accept the results of
any election, stressing the election must come "after
President Abdallahi completes his mandate." They stressed
that the country cannot develop without democracy. If the
military succeeds in installing itself in government
institutions, things will only get worse, and lead to a
series of coups in Africa. El Mokhtar said Abdallahi was in
office for 15 months, but Aziz wanted to "stay in power for
15 years." She also said that the international community
must continue to apply pressure on the junta to make them
relinquish power.


9. (C) U.S. presence at National Day ceremony: Najem
expressed disappointment that the USG sent a representative
to the Mauritanian National Day ceremony at the Presidential
Palace on November 28, saying the junta was using U.S.
attendance to try to claim some sort of legitimacy. (Note:
Most press and media were unaware that the USG even attended
the ceremony, so it is unclear how widespread knowledge of
U.S. attendance was. End note.) PolAsst said that the USG
wanted to express solidarity with the Mauritanian people, not
confer legitimacy on the junta, and noted that neither the
Ambassador nor Charge were present. PolAsst further
explained that the regime had changed the traditional order
of events for the flag ceremony, thereby compelling the
assembled diplomats to shake Aziz's hand before the flag was
raised (Reftel).


10. (C) USG must use its influence: Moussa, the most senior
party member present, arrived late and missed most of the
discussion. However, he thanked the USG for its firm
position against the coup. Unprompted, he praised the recent
U.S. elections, saying it was "an example for Africa." He
went on to say that the USG must use its privileged position
with President Sarkozy, who has also taken a firm anti-coup
stance, to maintain pressure on the Europeans, whom he saw as
the potential weak link among the international community.
Singling out China, which was "only looking out for its own
commercial interests," he said the USG must hold discussions
at the highest levels to "neutralize" them and their support
for dictators.


11. (C) Comment: The Tawassoul party has been one of the
strongest political opponents of the coup, and probably the
most vocal political party within the FNDD. In contrast to
many other Mauritanian politicians and their "nomadic"
tendencies, Tawassoul members appear to hold strong
principled stands, rooted in Islamic ideals. Having suffered
repression under President Taya, the members of Tawassoul are
not keen to see their gains made under Abdallahi erased.
They appear committed to fighting the coup for the long haul
and to restoring constitutional legitimacy. End comment.


HANKINS