MEETING WITH DADIS DISAPPOINTS CIVIL SOCIETY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000100

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SOCI ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH DADIS DISAPPOINTS CIVIL SOCIETY

REF: CONAKRY 0096


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. During a nationally broadcast meeting
with civil and political leaders, CNDD President Dadis was
aggressive, vague, and noncommittal. Despite the CNDD's
February 7 announcement that elections will take place in
late 2009, Dadis danced around the subject and refused to be
pinned down on a date and the duration of the transition.
Dadis publicly lauded certain political leaders and
disparaged others. Using appeals for patriotism and respect
for security, he attempted to justify some of his more
controversial decisions. Contacts reported mixed reactions,
but most agreed that the meeting was not what they were
hoping for. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Following the critical declarations issued by
Guinean civil society and political parties last week
(reftel),Moussa Dadis Camara, President of the National
Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD),met with a wide
range of civil and political actors on February 9 at the
People's Palace. Hadja Sera Rabiatou, co-leader of the
Unions Intersyndicale, spoke on behalf of the population,
essentially reiterating the demands civil society defined
last week. Dadis spoke at length and was described by some
observers as aggressive and rude, while monopolizing the
microphone.

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A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE
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3. (U) Dadis claimed that the CNDD's seizure of power was
legitimate not only because of obvious popular support, but
also because of the willingness of civil society leaders to
work with the CNDD to navigate the political transition. He
reiterated the CNDD's commitment to organize elections and
restore civilian rule, but was vague when it came to election
dates and a concrete timeline for the transition.

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DEMONSTRATING POLITICAL BIAS
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4. (U) Dadis doled out high praise to some opposition
political leaders, including Alpha Conde (Rally for the
Guinean People - RPG) and Jean Marie Dore (Guinean Union for
Progress - UPG),while disparaging anyone who had anything to
do with the Conte regime. Dadis stated that he would not
turn power over to any corrupt officials, including anyone
who had associated with the Conte regime. Dadis complimented
Alpha Conde and Jean Marie Dore for their integrity as
characterized by their refusal to participate in the past
government.

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SIX MONTHS, TWELVE MONTHS...IT'S UP TO YOU
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5. (SBU) After Rabiatou finished speaking, Dadis reportedly
seized a copy of the declaration and started commenting on
each point, without consulting the CNDD. On the question of
an election date, Dadis said "six months, twelve months...it
is not up to us to set the electoral calendar, this is a job
for the people of Guinea." He invited the audience to submit
proposals, which he promised to review. (COMMENT. Only a
few days earlier, the CNDD had announced that elections would
take place in the last quarter of 2009. Dadis made no such
reference. END COMMENT). Civil society participants told
Pol LES that Dadis was equally cagey on the question of the
duration of the transition period, providing no indication of
whether or not he was willing to cede power within the year.
Civil society demanded that the transition be completed no
later than December 2009.

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DEMOCRACY, NOT ANARCHY
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6. (U) Civil society also demanded that the CNDD remove the
many military roadblocks that the CNDD has erected throughout
the capital and the interior. Dadis claimed that these
roadbocks are necessary tools for enforcing the government's
commitment to fight drug trafficking, human trafficking,
money laundering, and armed robbery. "There is no
development without security. There is no democracy without
security. There will be no elections without security," he
said.


7. (U) On the question of lifting the CNDD's ban on

CONAKRY 00000100 002 OF 002


political and labor activity, Dadis again provided no real
response, saying only that he believed in liberty and
democracy, but also in order, not anarchy.

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HUMAN RIGHTS
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8. (SBU) Rabiatou raised the issue of investigating the
human rights abuses of 2006 and 2007. According to
participants, Dadis said civil society was welcome to conduct
any investigations that they want, and that the CNDD would
not block their efforts. Political leader Mouctar Diallo
commented that Dadis was clearly uneasy with the question,
and that his tone and facial expression revealed his distaste
for the subject.


9. (SBU) At one point, Dadis reportedly reiterated his
decision to immediately impose the death penalty for anyone
involved in narco-trafficking, child trafficking, armed
robbery, and money laundering. All of a sudden, he
interrupted himself saying "I see that the German Ambassador
is watching me intently as I talk about the death
penalty...you know the Managing Director of BICIGUI (French)
was attacked last week, which could have affected Guinea's
relationship with France and eventually discourage
investors...that is why I am advocating for this
punishment...it is for your own safety." (COMMENT. While
able confirm the attack on the BICIGUI Director, Embassy is
unaware of any other Western diplomats attending the meeting.
END COMMENT).

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REACTIONS
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10. (SBU) Observers interpreted Dadis' repeated slights of
former government officials as applying specifically to
opposition leaders Sidya Toure (Union of Republican Forces -
UFR) and Cellou Diallo (Union of Guinean Forces for Democracy
- UFDG). Sidya told Pol LES on February 10 that he had mixed
feelings about the speech in general, but that he personally
was not worried. He said that the ongoing audits would
reveal nothing because he had done nothing wrong during his
tenure as prime minister. Mouctar Diallo, president of a
relatively new youth party, told Pol LES that he found Dadis'
comments on political leaders disturbing. "He should not be
expressing his personal preference...the justice system
should decide who is corrupt and ineligible to run for
election...Dadis is taking sides."


11. (SBU) Political leader Ousmane Bah's (Union for Progress
and Renewal - UPR) impression of the meeting was generally
negative. He told Pol LES that Dadis spent a lot of time
talking, but not really saying anything. "He was just
repeating previous speeches," Bah said, adding that Dadis
avoided specifics on elections and the transition itself.
Jean-Marie Dore (UPG) was more positive, saying that Dadis'
insistence that the population determine an election timeline
reflects Dadis' interest in ensuring that political parties
are involved in the transition process. According to Dore,
Dadis is beginning to react more seriously to internal and
international pressure, but that he should be watched closely.

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COMMENT
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12. (SBU) Many contacts said that they were hoping to have a
frank discussion about the political transition, with clear
progress toward an election date and a defined transition
timeline. Most were disappointed. Despite the CNDD having
announced that elections will take place by the end of 2009,
Dadis' statements suggest that he may not be on board with
that plan. He was quick to justify his recent decisions and
behavior with calls for patriotism and the need for national
security. Dadis' singling out of specific political leaders
suggests that he may be becoming more politicized. Civil and
political leaders planned to regroup in order to determine
how best to react to Monday's meeting. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC