Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CONAKRY292
2009-05-26 12:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
TAXI DRIVERS ORGANIZE "SPONTANEOUS STRIKE"
how-toVZCZCXRO2690 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0292 1461211 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261211Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3696 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000292
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: TAXI DRIVERS ORGANIZE "SPONTANEOUS STRIKE"
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000292
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: TAXI DRIVERS ORGANIZE "SPONTANEOUS STRIKE"
1. (SBU) Beginning the morning of May 26, Conakry's taxi
drivers parked their vehicles and launched a labor "strike"
in protest of recent government decisions affecting the
transportation sector. Guinea's transportation union
(OUSA-CNTG) did not organize the strike and described the
movement as "spontaneous." As such, the workers did not file
a pre-notification of intent to strike, which is required by
law. However, an OUSA-CNTG contact told Econ LES that the
union will support the taxi drivers and will likely offer to
negotiate on their behalf. Contact noted that they were
planning to meet with Minister of Security, General Toto
Camara, at noon today (May 26).
2. (U) According to sources, the taxi strike is in protest
of several recent policy decisions issued by the military
junta. Early in the year, the Minister of Finance increased
the annual "road tax" by nearly 100% from 160,000 GnF
($32.65) to 300,000 GnF ($61.22). The deadline for paying
this tax is May 31. A few months later, in March, the
Minister of Security (Toto Camara) required that all taxis be
painted yellow, an expensive prospect for many taxi drivers,
although most complied. Camara also announced that taxis
could no longer carry more than four passengers at a time,
thereby effectively reducing income. Finally, the taxi
drivers are claiming that fuel prices have not dropped and
there is nothing in place to help compensate them for these
additional costs. Both the Finance Minister and the Security
Minister are military officers.
3. (U) In a city with few buses or any other means of public
transportation, taxis are the backbone of the transportation
sector. The streets are routinely crowded with taxis filled
to capacity, often carrying up to six passengers stuffed into
a sedan. When the taxis are off the roads, many people
cannot get to work or school. In the past, such disruptions
in transportation services have quickly sparked civil
protests, some of which were violent. The quickest group to
react is the student population, who rely on taxis to
transport them to school and university.
4. (SBU) Just a few hours into the strike, signs of violence
were already evident. By 0740, large numbers of youths were
seen gathering in the Cosa area. Shortly after that, a
Guinean military liaison officer to the Embassy called in to
say that the youths had thrown rocks at his vehicle, breaking
the back windshield. At 0940, RSO staff reported growing
numbers of people in the streets. Some of these people may
have been individuals simply walking to their destinations,
but angry youths were reportedly shouting and throwing rocks
at passing government vehicles. A truck full of riot police
(gendarme unit),in full gear, had been stationed at Bambeto
Circle, which is the main transportation artery that goes to
the Cosa area and the airport. By noon, the situation was
quiet and pedestrians and vehicles were moving normally.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) There have been rumors of discontent among the taxi
drivers for weeks, although such rumors are common. Without
a specific union movement, it is difficult to anticipate when
feelings of discontent will escalate to a more concrete
demonstration. This strike may represent the first real test
for CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara and the military
junta. Security forces have a poor track record when it
comes to quelling civil unrest and they may be even more
quick to overreact this time around out of a misplaced zeal
to demonstrate their loyalty to the government. The fact
that the strike is illegal may add even more zeal to their
response.
6. (SBU) At the same time, the strike may present a golden
public relations opportunity for Dadis. Since the unpopular
policies were instituted by two of his ministers, Dadis could
claim that he was unaware of the situation and then swoop in
to solve it, thereby emerging as the hero. Given that Dadis
has been marginalizing Security Minister Toto Camara for
months, this situation also gives Dadis a plausible
opportunity to further sideline him.
7. (SBU) At this point, it is unclear what direction this
strike might take. It could quickly escalate, but it could
also quickly go away. Embassy is closely monitoring the
situation. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: TAXI DRIVERS ORGANIZE "SPONTANEOUS STRIKE"
1. (SBU) Beginning the morning of May 26, Conakry's taxi
drivers parked their vehicles and launched a labor "strike"
in protest of recent government decisions affecting the
transportation sector. Guinea's transportation union
(OUSA-CNTG) did not organize the strike and described the
movement as "spontaneous." As such, the workers did not file
a pre-notification of intent to strike, which is required by
law. However, an OUSA-CNTG contact told Econ LES that the
union will support the taxi drivers and will likely offer to
negotiate on their behalf. Contact noted that they were
planning to meet with Minister of Security, General Toto
Camara, at noon today (May 26).
2. (U) According to sources, the taxi strike is in protest
of several recent policy decisions issued by the military
junta. Early in the year, the Minister of Finance increased
the annual "road tax" by nearly 100% from 160,000 GnF
($32.65) to 300,000 GnF ($61.22). The deadline for paying
this tax is May 31. A few months later, in March, the
Minister of Security (Toto Camara) required that all taxis be
painted yellow, an expensive prospect for many taxi drivers,
although most complied. Camara also announced that taxis
could no longer carry more than four passengers at a time,
thereby effectively reducing income. Finally, the taxi
drivers are claiming that fuel prices have not dropped and
there is nothing in place to help compensate them for these
additional costs. Both the Finance Minister and the Security
Minister are military officers.
3. (U) In a city with few buses or any other means of public
transportation, taxis are the backbone of the transportation
sector. The streets are routinely crowded with taxis filled
to capacity, often carrying up to six passengers stuffed into
a sedan. When the taxis are off the roads, many people
cannot get to work or school. In the past, such disruptions
in transportation services have quickly sparked civil
protests, some of which were violent. The quickest group to
react is the student population, who rely on taxis to
transport them to school and university.
4. (SBU) Just a few hours into the strike, signs of violence
were already evident. By 0740, large numbers of youths were
seen gathering in the Cosa area. Shortly after that, a
Guinean military liaison officer to the Embassy called in to
say that the youths had thrown rocks at his vehicle, breaking
the back windshield. At 0940, RSO staff reported growing
numbers of people in the streets. Some of these people may
have been individuals simply walking to their destinations,
but angry youths were reportedly shouting and throwing rocks
at passing government vehicles. A truck full of riot police
(gendarme unit),in full gear, had been stationed at Bambeto
Circle, which is the main transportation artery that goes to
the Cosa area and the airport. By noon, the situation was
quiet and pedestrians and vehicles were moving normally.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) There have been rumors of discontent among the taxi
drivers for weeks, although such rumors are common. Without
a specific union movement, it is difficult to anticipate when
feelings of discontent will escalate to a more concrete
demonstration. This strike may represent the first real test
for CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara and the military
junta. Security forces have a poor track record when it
comes to quelling civil unrest and they may be even more
quick to overreact this time around out of a misplaced zeal
to demonstrate their loyalty to the government. The fact
that the strike is illegal may add even more zeal to their
response.
6. (SBU) At the same time, the strike may present a golden
public relations opportunity for Dadis. Since the unpopular
policies were instituted by two of his ministers, Dadis could
claim that he was unaware of the situation and then swoop in
to solve it, thereby emerging as the hero. Given that Dadis
has been marginalizing Security Minister Toto Camara for
months, this situation also gives Dadis a plausible
opportunity to further sideline him.
7. (SBU) At this point, it is unclear what direction this
strike might take. It could quickly escalate, but it could
also quickly go away. Embassy is closely monitoring the
situation. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC