Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CONAKRY101
2009-02-12 16:15:00
SECRET
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

YOUTH LEADER CLAIMS CIVIL SOCIETY NOT CREDIBLE

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL SOCI ASEC GV 
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VZCZCXRO0645
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0101/01 0431615
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 121615Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3438
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000101 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL SOCI ASEC GV
SUBJECT: YOUTH LEADER CLAIMS CIVIL SOCIETY NOT CREDIBLE

Classified By: POLOFF S. SMITH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000101

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL SOCI ASEC GV
SUBJECT: YOUTH LEADER CLAIMS CIVIL SOCIETY NOT CREDIBLE

Classified By: POLOFF S. SMITH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (S) SUMMARY. During a February 11 meeting with Poloff,
prominent youth leader Thierno Balde shared his perspective
on recent political events in Guinea. He found the CNDD's
increased intimidation of the media and the close
relationship between the Minister of Justice and Claude Pivi
troubling. Balde argued for constitutional reform prior to
elections and expressed dissatisfaction with civil society.
Balde further recommended targeted, individual sanctions as a
more effective response from the international community.
END SUMMARY.


2. (S) On February 11, Poloff met with Thierno Balde, a
long-standing Embassy contact who has previously worked
closely with the CNDD. Over the course of the meeting, Balde
conveyed his growing concern with the actions of the CNDD,
prospects for constitutional reform, his perspective on civil
society leaders, and measures he recommended to pressure the
CNDD to hold elections.

--------------
MEDIA INTIMIDATION
--------------


3. (S) Expressing concern over increasing intimidation of the
media by the CNDD, Balde cited fallout from a recent article
in the local newspaper L'Observateur, which accused Minister
of Defense Sekouba Konate of accepting a bribe from officials
at the Port Autonome. Other sources confirmed that shortly
after the article's publication, members of the military
arrived at the home of Tibou Kamara, the former Director of
the L'Observateur who is also former Minister of
Communication and New Information Technology, and
ex-President of the National Council of Communication (CNC).
As Kamara was not home, the soldiers presented his cousin
with a letter demanding that Kamara present himself at Camp
Alpha Yaya. When the cousin questioned the soldiers about
the letter, they arrested him and took him to the camp. The
cousin was later released and Kamara has since gone into
hiding. According to Balde, the CNDD recently convened a
meeting to discuss the urgency of finding Kamara and decided
to arrest the current Director of L'Observateur, Mouctar

Diallo, if he is not soon found.

--------------
MINISTER OF JUSTICE PROTECTS PIVI
--------------


4. (S) Balde expressed concern that former mutiny leader and
Minister of Presidential Security Claude Pivi continues to
arrest people and detain them at Camp Alpha Yaya. Balde was
uncertain of the number of arrests, but noted they are
reportedly civil cases unrelated to the CNDD's ongoing
audits. Balde described the relationship between Pivi and
the Minister of Justice, Colonel Siba Nolamou, as very close,
noting that Pivi might be the Minister's nephew. Balde was
troubled by this relationship and said that he sees Pivi as
being protected by the Ministry of Justice. (COMMENT. This
may be sour grapes on Balde's part, as he was passed over by
the CNDD for the position of Minister of Justice. END
COMMENT.)

--------------
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
--------------


5. (S) Balde stated his desire to see the creation of a
Commission on Constitutional Reform within the CNDD. He
argued that a review of the constitution was a prerequisite
to elections and could be done within few months. Poloff
emphasized that this was unacceptable to the USG and that a
constitution created by the military would not be legitimate.
Balde argued that any constitution would be adopted by
referendum and therefore legitimate. When Poloff argued that
constitutional reform should not be imposed by a military
regime, regardless of whether or not there is a national
vote, Balde countered that the reality in Guinea necessitates
reform and that a review of the constitution prior to
elections would be more efficient.

--------------
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DADIS AND CONTE
--------------


6. (S) Balde told Poloff that while he believed Dadis Camara
to be sincere about holding elections, he doubted the people

CONAKRY 00000101 002 OF 002


around the President. As an example, Balde noted that when
he told Dadis Camara that elections were possible within
twelve months, he was directly contradicted by the Minister
of Justice who said that elections would require at least two
years. Balde explained that the "difference between Dadis
and Conte is that Dadis will listen." Poloff commented that
Dadis Camara has only been in power for two months whereas
Conte had been for 24 years. Poloff also suggested that
Dadis Camara's recent behavior is indicative of an emerging
dictator. Balde conceded that Dadis Camara had indeed
listened more in the early weeks after the coup.

--------------
CIVIL SOCIETY IS UNRELIABLE
--------------


7. (S) Expressing his disappointment in civil society, Balde
claimed some civil society leaders are lobbying the junta for
government positions. According to Balde, Thierno Aliou
Diaoune, a prominent leader in the National Council for Civil
Society Organizations (CNOSC),has been lobbying strongly for
the position of Director of the Gambling Commission. A
Presidential decree appointing him to that position has
already been written, but is being held because it is
potentially controversial. Similarly, Hadja Saran Daraba,
former Minister of Social Affairs and current Vice President
of CNOSC, initially lobbied for the Minister of Foreign
Affairs but was turned down. Balde also noted that Ben Sekou
Sylla, the President of the National Independent Electoral
Commission (CENI),is also President of CNOSC.


8. (S) Balde said this disappointment with current civil
society leaders inspired him to form a coalition among
various human rights groups and youth organizations. Balde
noted that even some CNOSC members have joined his coalition.
When Poloff remarked that the coalition might not endear him
to the CNDD, Balde replied that he had already been asked to
be a member of the government but had refused. At present,
he said that he sees value in having access to information
and to key people in CNDD.

--------------
TARGETED SANCTIONS
--------------


8. (S) Contrary to individual claims by members of the CNDD,
Balde contends that the CNDD is not concerned about
assistance or deteriorating bilateral relationships.
Instead, Balde suggested that they would respond to
international pressure through "targeted individual
sanctions" such as freezing foreign bank accounts, preventing
key actors and their family members from traveling (by
denying visas),and publicly holding people accountable for
human rights violations.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (S) The media intimidation, taken with other recent
events, demonstrates that the CNDD appears to be
consolidating its power. That Pivi, a known human rights
violator, is strengthening his position is also cause for
concern. As such, Balde appears to be increasingly
distancing himself from the CNDD. However, his approach to
moving Guinea towards democracy is contradictory. A belief
that members of civil society will never be able to reach
agreement seems to be at the root of his insistence that the
CNDD lead constitutional reform. Nevertheless, he is
attempting to form another coalition group. Because his
efforts to bring together members of civil society have been
unsuccessful in the past, his ability to launch another
movement is questionable.


RASPOLIC