NEW PNR POLITICAL PARTY HIGHLIGHTS CNDD'S SUCCESSES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000474

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NEW PNR POLITICAL PARTY HIGHLIGHTS CNDD'S SUCCESSES

REF: CONAKRY 0424


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Following up on rumors of a new pro-CNDD
political party (reftel),A/DCM met with representatives of
the recently created PNR. Although the party seemed to be
careful about identifying itself too closely with the CNDD,
representatives' generally positive view of the CNDD's
accomplishments to date suggest hidden linkages. Like most
of Guinea's other 85 plus political parties, the PNR had
difficulty defining its political platform and likely
overestimates its constituency. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Four members of one of Guinea's newest political
parties, the Party for National Renewal (PNR),met with A/DCM
on August 10. Just a few weeks ago, the party was the
subject of much speculation because of its apparent links to
the CNDD (reftel). At the time, it was rumored that the PNR
would be headed by the Minister of State for Urban Planning,
Boubacar Barry, who is a member of the CNDD and close
personal friend of CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara.

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A PARTY OF THE PEOPLE
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3. (SBU) According to Maitre Mody Oumar Barry (lawyer),the
Secretary General of the PNR, the entire executive bureau was
elected by party supporters. Referring to the fact that most
of Guinea's political parties are associated with a specific
political personality, Barry emphasized that the PNR is a
movement of the people rather than any one individual. When
asked if the party had a candidate in mind for the
presidential election, Barry explained that the only way the
PNR will select a candidate is through an election by the
General Assembly of the Party.


4. (SBU) Barry claimed to enjoy widespread youth support.
At one point, one of his colleagues said that "70% of
Conakry's youth support the PNR." Barry described the
creation of the party as the brainchild of young
intellectuals who recognized that none of Guinea's 85 plus
political parties represented their interests, so they
decided to create a new party to better respond to "popular
expectations." (COMMENT. None of the four party
representatives appeared to be under the age of 35, possibly

40. END COMMENT). Party representatives found it difficult
to estimate the extent of the party's support, although they
noted that General Assembly meetings routinely attract 300
plus participants.

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A "CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE"
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5. (SBU) When asked about the party's political agenda,
Barry said the PNR wants to present itself as a "credible
alternative" to the transition. However, it was difficult
for him to articulate just what that alternative would be
except that it would be fundamentally different from the
Toure and Conte regimes. Barry described the party's
platform as socio-democratic, noting that they support a
balance between a collective redistribution of wealth and the
need for private enterprise.


6. (SBU) At several points in the discussion, party members
emphasized that the PNR stands for national renewal, which
seemed to be defined as essentially starting over. One
member focused on the need for national reconciliation
because of the significant and extensive human rights abuses
committed under Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte. "We are
talking about the system that will be put in place after the
military steps down...renewal does not apply to the current
system...it refers to the future governance of Guinea," the
SG Barry said. Again, he could not define what that future
governance would look like.

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ELECTION DATE NOT IMPORTANT
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7. (SBU) On the question of elections, party representatives
were largely unconcerned about the date. Barry emphasized
that it is more important to have good elections than to have
elections just to have elections. "I can't really say
whether we are talking about 2009 or 2010; I have to see the
whole picture," he said. However, he did note that it is
important to have elections in order to "normalize the
political situation."


CONAKRY 00000474 002 OF 002


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POSITIVE MARKS FOR THE CNDD
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8. (SBU) When it came to questions about governance under
the CNDD, Barry said that the CNDD's performance on a whole
has been generally positive. "There have been a few
mistakes, but no government is perfect." Topping the CNDD's
list of achievements, Barry mentioned avoidance of civil war
(due to problems with the constitutional process) and efforts
to combat narcotics and corruption. "If we are objective, we
have to admit that it is difficult to do anything with
respect to development when you don't have any money," Barry
commented.


9. (SBU) On the security front, Barry said the situation is
still difficult, but there have been marked improvements. He
then made a case for the international community to begin
implementing security sector reforms before the elections
take place. "I am not saying that we need to finish the
military reform program, but we should certainly get it
started if we want to avoid another coup d'etat," Barry said.

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COMMENT
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10. (SBU) Like most other Guinean political parties, the PNR
claims to have been created to fill a void, but has
difficulty articulating a concrete political agenda. To be
fair, Barry did say the party is in the process of drafting
its program, but it would be reasonable to expect at least a
rough description of what the PNR hopes to accomplish. It is
likely that the PNR is also overestimating its current
constituency. Many of the Embassy's youth contacts are quick
to criticize the CNDD, which is inconsistent with the PNR's
apparent position.


11. (SBU) Earlier rumors of PNR links to the CNDD largely
seem to have been based on the presumption that the party
would be led by a CNDD member. However, the party has either
abandoned that plan or never intended to bring in a CNDD
member. At the same time, it is clear that the PNR may not
be directly supporting the CNDD, but it certainly is not
criticizing it. Barry's views on the "positive"
accomplishments of the CNDD sound suspiciously similar to
those of pro-government parties under the Conte regime. END
COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE