CIVIL DEMONSTRATIONS UP COUNTRY, PEOPLE WORRIED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000590 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: CIVIL DEMONSTRATIONS UP COUNTRY, PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT MONDAY REF: CONAKRY 0587 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Protests/demonstrations took place in three distinctly different parts of the country on September 24, all of them connected to CNDD efforts to organize pro-Dadis political rallies. In Labe, thousands of people peacefully took to the streets to protest CNDD efforts to rally support in anticipation of a Dadis visit to the region on September 26. In Siguiri, pro-CNDD youths clashed with youths from opposition parties while in Guekedou, local authorities forcibly closed local businesses after traders refused to comply with a request to help clean up the city for a pro-Dadis rally. Meanwhile, many contacts seem to be worried about what is expected to be a "significant" demonstration in Conakry on September 28. END SUMMARY. -------------- DADIS' CANDIDACY NOT WELCOME HERE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On September 24, at least three different politically charged demonstrations took place in the interior of the country. In Labe, which is predominantly Peuhl and widely seen as the stronghold of political support for UFDG (Union of Guinean Democratic Forces) party leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in anticipation of CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara's planned September 26 visit to the regional capital. According to sources, there were between 6,000 and 20,000 demonstrators, but the exact number is unknown. ¶3. (SBU) The Labe demonstration started in the early morning, was conducted peacefully, and ended in the early afternoon. Local businesses were closed and police and gendarmes were on site. Available information indicates that security forces behaved responsibly and there were no incidents of violence. One contact reported that twelve youths were briefly arrested and detained, but released within a few hours. ¶4. (SBU) Local press reports claim that the citizens of Labe decided to organize a demonstration as a message to Dadis after they heard that he was planning a pro-CNDD political rally in the their. There were reportedly rumors that the CNDD planned to transport people from the villages surrounding Labe to the regional capital in order to demonstrate how popular Dadis is in the Fouta Region. One resident reportedly said "we can receive Dadis as the President of Guinea, but not Dadis as the junta's candidate." ¶5. (SBU) Another Embassy contact told A/PAO that the Labe demonstrators were planning further protests over the next few days, but details were sketchy. The Contact indicated that some of the Labe demonstrators would travel to neighboring Mamou (about two hours away) to organize demonstrations there. -------------- NO DADIS T-SHIRTS HERE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) A few hundred kilometers to the east, violent clashes reportedly broke out in Siguiri (Upper Guinea) when local residents discovered that a CNDD delegation was distributing Dadis T-shirts in an attempt to rally support for the CNDD. The delegation reportedly included Dadis' wife and the CNDD Permanent Secretary, Commandant Moussa Keita. Supporters of the Alpha Conde led RPG party (Rally for the Guinean People) and the Sidya Toure led UFR party (Union of Republican Forces) reportedly said they would rather wear T-shirts displaying photographs of their own political candidates rather than that of Dadis. Fistfights broke out between pro-CNDD youths and members of opposition political parties. Embassy has not received any further information as to the extent of the violence. -------------- EVEN IN THE FOREST REGION... -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In the town of Guekedou (Forest Region),local traders clashed with security forces when military personnel attempted to close down the market for the entire day. The Mayor and the Prefect were reportedly planning to organize a rally to support Dadis' candidacy and had demanded that vendors shut down their businesses in order to participate in a campaign to clean up the city in anticipation of the rally. Some vendors defied the order, saying that they had not been CONAKRY 00000590 002 OF 002 informed in advance. Local authorities reportedly ordered the military to forcibly close the businesses. No information was available as to whether there were arrests or injuries as a result. -------------- LOOKING TO MONDAY -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Meanwhile, socio-political actors in the capital continue to discuss plans for what many expect to be a "significant" demonstration on September 28. The CNDD's order to close the stadium, which was the site initially proposed to launch a Forces Vives rally (reftel),does not seem to have deterred anyone. Aboubacar Syllah, political party leader and communications director for Les Forces Vives, told A/DCM that the Forces Vives still plans to go forward with the demonstration, which is supposed to start at 8:00 Monday morning. However, he was heading to a Forces Vives meeting at the time, saying that he would advise the Embassy if the plan changed. ¶9. (SBU) A youth contact told A/DCM that the Embassy should expect "major activity" on Monday. "This is not a couple thousand people...we plan to mobilize in force to demonstrate once and for all that we will no longer accept the CNDD," he said, drawing analogies with the situation in early 2007 when the population demanded that former President Conte step down from power. "We need a true transition government...we asked for it in 2007 and we are going to demand it now." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Embassy contacts have been warning of the likelihood of a surge of anti-junta protests to follow the end of Ramadan on September 20. The early part of the week was quiet, but three different events in three distinctly different parts of the country on Thursday may indicate that more protests/demonstrations are likely in the weeks ahead. Many people seem to be worried about what may happen on Monday with the Forces Vives' anticipated demonstration. Members of the diplomatic corp have expressed concern and there are indications that the French School may preemptively close its school on Monday. At this point, it is difficult to anticipate whether a mass demonstration will actually take place, or if it will ultimately end up being a few hundred people, or if it will simply be called off. Embassy is holding an EAC today and will continue to monitor the situation. END COMMENT. BROKENSHIRE