ERRATIC DADIS PROMISES WATER AND ELECTRICITY FOR

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000407 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ENRG KPAO XA GV SUBJECT: ERRATIC DADIS PROMISES WATER AND ELECTRICITY FOR ALL ¶1. Summary: On July 10 Captain Moussa Dadis Camara convoked the diplomatic corps, members of the Forces Vives, youth associations, political parties and the media for a meeting at the Koloma headquarters of RTG national radio and television. He announced a plan to provide water and electricity for all Guineans at a cost of 182 million USD. Dadis behaved erratically throughout the meeting and Red Beret soldiers repeatedly bullied audience members. End Summary. ¶2. Three hours before the start of the meeting, the protocol office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) called to invite a representative of the Embassy to the meeting, which the acting DCM accepted. The meeting was delayed for nearly 90 minutes, partly because RTG could not keep the power on in their own building. Dadis began the meeting by publicly berating a representative from RTG for not keeping the lights on. ¶3. Following this scolding, the Minister of State for the Presidency in Charge of Regional and Urban Planning and Housing, Boubacar Barry, laid out the proposal for water and electricity. The plan will cost approximately 180 million USD and includes rehabilitating several power generators in Conakry, building three hydroelectric dams, and drilling new wells for water. (Note: A World Bank representative told Charge that these are not new projects but are old projects that have been put on hold or are awaiting government funding.) ¶4. Dadis then opened the floor for "questions." Former Prime Ministers Cellou Dallein Diallo and Sidya Toure and several "youth leaders," gave speeches with no questions involved. Some people asked whether Dadis was diverting attention away from elections with his electricity plan. Dadis promised to have elections whether or not the plan worked. ¶5. After three hours Dadis ended the meeting. At this point a representative of the Guinean Water and Electricity Company, which will be responsible for implementing the plan, rose to speak. Dadis jumped up to the edge of the stage and began screaming at the man, as did several other CNDD members. They said the man was being disrespectful by asking a question at the end of the meeting. Red Berets charged into the seats and the man put his hands up and sat down. A representative from the protocol office, who invited the diplomatic corps to the meeting, then stood up to ask a question as "a matter of protocol." Dadis again jumped to the edge of the stage and screamed at the man that he was being disrespectful. This time the man did not have the chance to sit down. A half dozen Red Berets charged into the bleachers and dragged the man down the stairs, causing him to fall at the bottom of the stairs. They picked him up and pushed him out of the studio. ¶6. Comment: The substance of the meeting was lost in the circus-like atmosphere. Dadis was as erratic as ever, at times appearing drowsy at other times jumping up and screaming. The heavily armed Red Berets bullied audience members and ejected several people who crossed them. Dadis used the diplomatic corps to lend credibility to the meeting, saying how important it was to have them present. The audience of about 300 did not seem particularly enthused to see Dadis. There was only a smattering of applause when he entered and left the studio. Towards the end of the marathon session audience members were calling on the "President of the Republic" to end it. It should be noted that there is a severe lack of electricity in Conakry and virtually no electricity up country, which may be contributing to Dadis's waning popularity. End comment. BROKENSHIRE