GUINEAN LAWYERS END LABOR STRIKE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000342 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY RENUMBERING PARA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV ASEC GV SUBJECT: GUINEAN LAWYERS END LABOR STRIKE REF: A. CONAKRY 0221 ¶B. CONAKRY 0287 ¶C. CONAKRY 0296 ¶D. CONAKRY 0330 ¶1. (U) After just three days, Guinea's Bar Association called a halt to the labor strike launched on June 8 to protest the CNDD's continued support of the Bureau of Conflicts, which is in effect, a parallel justice system (reftels). CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara initially reacted to the strike with insults and threats of mass layoffs. He had showed up at a meeting at the People's Palace on June 9 to discuss the strike only to find that a number of judges had decided not to participate. Dadis rebuked the judges, describing them as unpatriotic, arrogant, and selfish. He also announced that he would force the retirement of any judge who was not present. However, Dadis abruptly did an about-face when he signed a decree on June 10 to abolish the position of "Secretary General in Charge of Conflicts." The position was held by Lieutenant Issa Camara. In the same decree, Dadis promoted Issa to the rank of Captain and appointed him as the Governor of Mamou in Charge of Combating Highway Robbery (a new position). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (U) Returning to work on June 11, the Guinean Bar Association seems content with Dadis's decision to abolish Issa Camara's position. However, it is still not clear if Dadis actually abolished the Bureau of Conflicts or just the head position. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC