GUINEAN LAWYERS THREATENS LABOR STRIKE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000287

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: GUINEAN LAWYERS THREATENS LABOR STRIKE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Guinea's equivalent of the National Bar
Association is threatening to go on strike as early as May 21
to protest the CNDD's perpetuation of extra-judicial legal
procedures and a parallel justice system. At a minimum, the
Bar is demanding that the CNDD immediately eliminate two
offices with judicial authority that are operating out of
Camp Alpha Yaya. In response, CNDD President Dadis summoned
the head of the Bar to meet with him the evening of May 21
and reportedly told him that he would examine their demands.
As these issues are becoming increasingly problematic, the
Bar's decision to take a stand is a positive development. At
the same time, it is unclear how a potential strike would be
received and what impact it might have. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The 144 members of the National Order of Lawyers of
Guinea (an organization equivalent to the Bar Association in
the United States) has been threatening to go on strike as
early as May 21. Pol/Econ Chief met with the head of the
Bar, Maitre Mohamed Sampil, on May 20 to discuss the
situation. Sampil was elected to his position by his
associates on January 15 for a two-year term.

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PARALLEL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST GO
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3. (SBU) Sampil confirmed recent press reports regarding the
reasons behind the strike, which stem from the Bar's
frustration with the extra-judiciary processes and parallel
legal system perpetuated by the CNDD since the coup. At a
minimum, the Bar is demanding that the CNDD eliminate the
Bureau of Conflict and the Bureau of Judicial Investigations,
both of which operate out of Camp Alpha Yaya. (COMMENT. The
Bureau of Conflict is reportedly staffed entirely by military
personnel with no legal training. The Bureau has quickly
gained a reputation as the place to go for an expeditious
decision and/or reconsideration of closed cases. The Bureau
has overturned at least one Supreme Court decision. END
COMMENT)


4. (SBU) According to Sampil, the members of the Bar have
been increasingly disturbed over the deterioration of the
justice system and the general lack of respect for rule of
law. The Bar met with the Minister of Justice in early
February to raise these concerns. At that time, Sampil
requested that the Minister raised the Bar's concerns
directly with Dadis in order to draw his attention to the
blatant disregard for the law and human rights. Sampil told
Pol/Econ Chief that the Bar has not received any response to
its request.


5. (SBU) Sampil explained that members of the Bar have been
considering issuing a declaration on the situation for some
time now, but refrained because they felt the "political
equilibrium was too fragile." In addition, Sampil said that
the CNDD's intentions in the beginning appeared genuine in
that they said they would address corruption and drug
trafficking, two issues of grave concern. "What patriot of
his country could speak out against this agenda?" Sampil
said. However, the Bar did direct all lawyers to refrain
from participating in any legal procedures originating from
Camp Alpha Yaya.


6. (SBU) Expounding on the many human rights abuses
perpetuated by the CNDD in the name of justice, Sampil
mentioned one particularly striking example. He described
how CNDD President Dadis had recently appeared on "the Dadis
Show" to preside over a land dispute case that had been
reopened. During this public hearing over national
television, Dadis reportedly declared himself as the
country's "chief judge." He then proceeded to reverse the
initial legal ruling.


7. (SBU) As the legal situation continued to worsen and
Dadis and the CNDD failed to respond to the lawyers'
concerns, Sampil said that the Bar was forced to threaten
more concrete action. He anticipates that the strike could
begin as early as May 21. Although the Bar only has 144
members, Sampil said that judges, notaries, and other legally
trained professionals plan to participate. In response to
the threat, Sampil was called down to speak to the
Secretariat for the President today (May 20) in preparation
for a meeting with Dadis later that evening. According to
Sampil, the Bar is demanding that Dadis immediately eliminate
any institutions that support a parallel system of justice.
On May 21, Sampil called to say that the meeting went well
and that Dadis was "in favor of examining their demands."

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CONAKRY 00000287 002 OF 002


COMMENT
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8. (SBU) The issue of extra-judiciary processes and parallel
justice is becoming increasingly problematic. Embassy has
been routinely raising this issue with interlocutors and
government officials, but the message seems to often be
dismissed as yet another Western admonition about human
rights. The Bar's decision to draw attention to the problem
is a good thing. At the same time, the Bar has gone on
strike in the past for various issues, but such strikes were
barely acknowledged by the population since the justice
system, even when it is at its best, barely functions at all.
Dadis' meeting with the Bar will likely postpone the strike,
but it will be interesting to see if he actually accedes to
their demands. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC