Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABIDJAN197
2009-03-25 08:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENT DETAINED FOR REMARKS ON

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PHUM IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 250820Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5024
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000197 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM IV
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENT DETAINED FOR REMARKS ON
TELEVISION SHOW

Classified By: PolEcon Chief Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000197


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM IV
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENT DETAINED FOR REMARKS ON
TELEVISION SHOW

Classified By: PolEcon Chief Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (U) Summary. The national security agency (DST),at the
request of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, detained
Kobena Anaky, president of a small opposition political
party, March 20-21. Anaky's detention was the result of
remarks he made regarding recent events in Madagascar on a
March 18 television talk show, implying that Ivoirians should
seek similar regime change. A Ministry of Interior statement
issued on March 21 accused Anaky of urging Ivoirians to
follow the example of the Malagasy in violation of the penal
code. End Summary.


2. (U) Kobena Anaky, President of the MFA political party
(Movement of Forces of the Future),was picked up at his
residence by DST the afternoon of March 20. The Spokesman of
the Armed Forces Chief of Staff read a statement on
television the evening of March 20 announcing that the Armed
Forces had ordered DST to detain Anaky. The statement
extended a warning to those who urge Ivoirians to rise up and
asked Ivoirians to support the current peace process. Anaky
was released the morning of March 21.


3. (SBU) Anaky participated in a television talk show that
aired on March 18. MFA Secretary General Philippe Legre told
Poloff that a journalist asked Anaky to comment on recent
events in Madagascar. According to Legre, Anaky responded
that people can take destiny into their own hands if they
want to. An Ivoirian who watched the broadcast told Poloff
that Anaky stated that Ivoirians could learn from the recent
events in Madagascar. The Ministry of Interior issued a
statement on March 21 stating that Anaky's remarks violate
Article 169 of the criminal code, which forbids actions that
compromise public security, bring about serious political
disturbances, discredit government institutions, or provoke
and incite disobedience of the laws and orders of the
legitimate state authority. The Ministry of Interior
statement said that the case against Anaky will follow the
customary judicial process. However, Legre told Poloff that
no charges have been lodged against Anaky. Legre also told
Poloff that Anaky refused to sign the statement DST drafted
based on its interrogation of him.


4. (SBU) Anaky's party is small and is a member of the RHDP
(Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace) coalition
of opposition political parties. The RHDP met on March 21 to
discuss Anaky's detention and Legre told Poloff the RHDP will
issue a statement regarding the case on March 24. On March
23, Anaky announced that the MFA was pulling out of the
government. The MFA heads only one ministry, Reconstruction
and Reintegration. Anaky is known for his vituperative
comments, and such remarks made in the past at MFA meetings
and rallies, even though reported in the press, have been
ignored. Anaky's relationship with President Gbagbo's FPI
party is thorny since Anaky was a founding member of the FPI,
but subsequently formed the MFA.


5. (C) Legre believes the detention is an attempt by the
government to intimidate opposition presidential candidates
and a tactic to avoid holding elections. Poloff asked Legre
if he thought President Gbagbo had directed Anaky's
detention. Legre responded that Gbagbo must have since he is
the Commander of the Armed Forces and Chief of Staff General
Mangou could never have ordered such a course of action
without the President's approval.


6. (SBU) Comment: Embassy is attempting to get a copy of the
television program. It is disturbing, but not totally
surprising given recent events, that the Armed Forces, rather
than the Ministry of Interior, took the lead in bringing
about Anaky's detention. With changes in neighboring Guinea
and Guinea Bissau, the government could be concerned that
some individuals will take Anaky's words seriously. The
government's actions are also causing unease among some
Ivoirians on the street, who are already concerned about
security during the presidential elections and possible
reactions by the Armed Forces. Others have expressed a more
positive interpretation of Anaky's detention and see it as a
strong signal by the government that derailment of the peace
process will not be tolerated.

AKUETTEH