MEDIA RESPONSE TO USG PRESS RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000500

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MEDIA RESPONSE TO USG PRESS RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT
GOG RESPONSE

REF: CONAKRY 00493

Classified By: A/PAO MOLLY SANCHEZ CROWE FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D


1. (U) Summary: Following the August 20 USG press release
on Guinean elections and the subsequent GOG response
(REFTEL),journalists told PAS staff that the USG is playing
an appropriate role by reminding the CNDD of the commitments
it made upon taking power. The USG press release and GOG
response has also sparked on-going discussions on radio talk
shows regarding a possible Dadis candidacy in the
presidential elections of 2010. Guinean state television
continues to present only pro-Dadis reporting. End Summary


2. (C) PAS Press Assistant spoke with Souleyman Diallo,
senior Guinean journalist and editor of the newspapers Le
Lynx and La Lance. Mr. Diallo said that he originally
supported the junta, thinking that Dadis was a real military
officer, but that it is now clear that Dadis is not
respecting his commitments. Diallo commented, "If he has
changed, we have changed too. We do not support him." He
also commented, "We will push him out the door. We are not
scared."


3. (C) Another journalist, Moussa Ibn Conte of the Guinean
written press association, noted that the USG press release
came at the right time and shook everything up in Guinea.
Both journalists stated that the press release issued by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was prepared by the controversial
Minister of Communication to the Presidency and to the
Minister of National Defense, Tibou Camara, a recent CNDD
appointee who previously served as the Minister of
Information under the Souare administration.


4. (U) PAS also received calls from a large number of
journalists expressing support for the USG press release. In
general, journalists said the USG is playing an appropriate
role by reminding the CNDD of the commitments they made when
they took power. Some commented that the CNDD was correct to
remind the United States that this is an internal affair;
however they also noted that since the CNDD made commitments
to the international community, it is appropriate for the
U.S. to remind them of those commitments. Another comment
heard from journalists noted that if the U.S. did not make
this type of statement now, it would not have the moral
authority to criticize the regime later.


5. (U) PAS continues to monitor radio programs, including
call-in programs, on private radio stations. During several
recent programs that opened phone lines for listeners to
comment on a possible Dadis candidacy, the vast majority of
callers commented that, while Dadis has the right to present
himself as a candidate, he should not do so because he made
the commitment not to run when he took power. According to
comments, this early commitment gave people hope that there
would be a democratic transition in Guinea, which is why
people originally supported Dadis and the CNDD. Another
frequently heard comment suggests that Dadis is manipulating
certain groups to push for his candidacy, but that if he does
run, people will take to the streets and will reject his
candidacy.


6. (U) While debate continues on the private radio
airwaves, the government television station RTG consistently
presents pro-CNDD reporting. RTG aired the GOG's response to
the USG press release on August 22, followed by a commentary
describing the release as undermining the will of the new
authorities to carry out the transition, and noting that
Guineans should be allowed to choose their leaders without
foreign interference. The television news did not AIR or
make reference to the Forces Vives' August 23 statement. The
lead story on August 24 was an editorial piece describing the
ad-hoc committee as an independent and impartial body created
at the suggestion of the Forces Vives and noting that the
Guinean people are "perplexed" by the voices attempting to
undermine the new timeline for elections announced by this
committee.


7. (U) Comment: Discussion has not abated. Contacts seem
to be looking to next week's International Contact Group
meeting as a strong indicator of how the transition process
may unfold in the weeks ahead. End Comment
BROKENSHIRE