Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CONAKRY309
2009-06-02 14:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST DETAINED AT CAMP ALPHA YAYA
how-toVZCZCXRO8429 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0309 1531430 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021430Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3715 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000309
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO XY GV
SUBJECT: OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST DETAINED AT CAMP ALPHA YAYA
REF: CONAKRY 000258
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000309
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO XY GV
SUBJECT: OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST DETAINED AT CAMP ALPHA YAYA
REF: CONAKRY 000258
1. The Guinean website lejourguinee.com reported that Moise Sidibe,
a journalist for l'Independant newspaper, along with one of his
sons, was apprehended the night of May 27-28 by soldiers and
detained at Camp Alpha Yaya, headquarters of the ruling junta.
Sidibe's boss at l'Independant, Mamadou Dian Balde, has been an
active participant in the Embassy's Human Rights Working Group.
2. Sidibe is known for his articles that are critical of those in
power. On the morning after the arrest, l'Independant published an
article by Sidibe that was highly critical of Moussa Dadis Camara,
head of the CNDD and self-proclaimed President of the Republic. The
article was titled "Les Grosses Bevues" (The Big Blunders) and
discussed Dadis's missteps, unworldliness and short temper. The
article said Dadis was cut from the same mold as Sekou Toure and
Lansana Conte. The article was also critical of the international
community, but most of its heat was directed at the CNDD.
3. A source at the newspaper said that Sidibe and his son were
arrested at a drinking establishment near his residence, along with
several other patrons of the bar. The source said that a team from
the office of the fight against drugs and banditry, including the
head of the office, Captain Thieboro Camara, were on patrol in the
area and began making arrests. As of this writing Sidibe and his
son have been held for five days. Sidibe has not been allowed to
speak to anyone. He was only allowed one phone call to a friend in
which he said he was being detained. Sidibe is approximately 50
years old and his son is a teenager.
4. The association of private media in Guinea told the PD press
assistant that they intend to contact Dadis to ask for the release
of Sidibe. The news director of l'Independant, Mamadou Dian Balde,
said that all of the independent newspapers will comment on the
arrest in their next issue. According to Balde, the mother and wife
of Sidibe met with him over the weekend and said that he is doing
well and has not been mistreated. The Conseil National de la
Communication (CNC) has not yet made any public statement on the
arrest. When PAO contacted the president of the CNC on June 1 to
ask about the arrest, he claimed it was the first he had heard about
it.
5. Comment: At this point it is unclear whether Sidibe was arrested
because of his newspaper articles or if he was simply at the wrong
place at the wrong time. PD press assistant has spoken to several of
his colleagues who confirmed the arrest. Embassy Conakry is
currently looking into the detention as well as a possible
response.
6. Comment Continued: L'Independant has a reputation as one of the
more independant newspapers in Guinea. They have been critical of
the CNDD and the editor-in-chief has been a guest on several radio
shows in which he criticized the junta. L'Independant was one of
the only major newspapers that did not take money from Dadis when he
freely distributed funds recently to Guinean journalists(Reftel).
It is possible the CNDD will use this arrest to send a message to
other journalists and will have a chilling effect on freedom of
expression in Guinea in the run up to legislative and presidential
elections. End comment.
RASPOLIC
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO XY GV
SUBJECT: OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST DETAINED AT CAMP ALPHA YAYA
REF: CONAKRY 000258
1. The Guinean website lejourguinee.com reported that Moise Sidibe,
a journalist for l'Independant newspaper, along with one of his
sons, was apprehended the night of May 27-28 by soldiers and
detained at Camp Alpha Yaya, headquarters of the ruling junta.
Sidibe's boss at l'Independant, Mamadou Dian Balde, has been an
active participant in the Embassy's Human Rights Working Group.
2. Sidibe is known for his articles that are critical of those in
power. On the morning after the arrest, l'Independant published an
article by Sidibe that was highly critical of Moussa Dadis Camara,
head of the CNDD and self-proclaimed President of the Republic. The
article was titled "Les Grosses Bevues" (The Big Blunders) and
discussed Dadis's missteps, unworldliness and short temper. The
article said Dadis was cut from the same mold as Sekou Toure and
Lansana Conte. The article was also critical of the international
community, but most of its heat was directed at the CNDD.
3. A source at the newspaper said that Sidibe and his son were
arrested at a drinking establishment near his residence, along with
several other patrons of the bar. The source said that a team from
the office of the fight against drugs and banditry, including the
head of the office, Captain Thieboro Camara, were on patrol in the
area and began making arrests. As of this writing Sidibe and his
son have been held for five days. Sidibe has not been allowed to
speak to anyone. He was only allowed one phone call to a friend in
which he said he was being detained. Sidibe is approximately 50
years old and his son is a teenager.
4. The association of private media in Guinea told the PD press
assistant that they intend to contact Dadis to ask for the release
of Sidibe. The news director of l'Independant, Mamadou Dian Balde,
said that all of the independent newspapers will comment on the
arrest in their next issue. According to Balde, the mother and wife
of Sidibe met with him over the weekend and said that he is doing
well and has not been mistreated. The Conseil National de la
Communication (CNC) has not yet made any public statement on the
arrest. When PAO contacted the president of the CNC on June 1 to
ask about the arrest, he claimed it was the first he had heard about
it.
5. Comment: At this point it is unclear whether Sidibe was arrested
because of his newspaper articles or if he was simply at the wrong
place at the wrong time. PD press assistant has spoken to several of
his colleagues who confirmed the arrest. Embassy Conakry is
currently looking into the detention as well as a possible
response.
6. Comment Continued: L'Independant has a reputation as one of the
more independant newspapers in Guinea. They have been critical of
the CNDD and the editor-in-chief has been a guest on several radio
shows in which he criticized the junta. L'Independant was one of
the only major newspapers that did not take money from Dadis when he
freely distributed funds recently to Guinean journalists(Reftel).
It is possible the CNDD will use this arrest to send a message to
other journalists and will have a chilling effect on freedom of
expression in Guinea in the run up to legislative and presidential
elections. End comment.
RASPOLIC