MILITARY FIRES ON DEMONSTRATORS DURING LARGE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000594 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: MILITARY FIRES ON DEMONSTRATORS DURING LARGE DEMONSTRATION AGAINST DADIS' CANDIDACY REF: CONAKRY 00590 ¶1. Demonstrations organized by the Forces Vives on September 28 in opposition to Dadis' candidacy (REFTEL) turned violent when soldiers, including those wearing red berets, entered the stadium where the protestors gathered and fired into the crowd. While the number of casualties is still unknown, one contact at the stadium counted over 80 dead. Others report approximately 50 dead in and around the stadium. Radio reports indicate a high number of casualties. ¶2. On Sunday, September 27, the GOG took several unsucessful steps to prevent or diminish the impact of the planned demonstrations. Dadis announced that Monday, September 28th, the day that Guinea said "no" to to the French in 1958, would be recognized as a paid holiday. In a separate communique, the Minister of Territorial Affairs and Political Administration issued a communique stating that all demonstrations in Guinea were prohibited until after October 2nd. However, the Forces Vives met on Sunday and issued their own communique that the march would continue as planned. ¶3. During their march to the stadium, demonstrators were confronted by security forces, comprised orignially by MOS police and MOD gendarmes, staged at various points around the city. The crowd reportedly burned several MOS vehicles and set one gendarmerie office ablaze. The security forces were unable to stop the advancing crowd, who successfully arrived and entered the stadium. Upon arrival, demonstrators chanted anti-Dadis slogans and prayed together for peace. According to reports, the military arrived and confronted the political leaders for organizing the rally despite the announced holiday. The military then began firing at the crowd. According to one eyewitness, security forces beat those who attempted to flee the stadium. ¶4. According to several sources, political leaders Cellou Dalein Diallo, Jean Marie Dore, Mouctar Diallo and Sidya Toure may have been arrested at the stadium. These reports are still unconfirmed, but it was reported on Familia FM that the leaders were being held by security forces. BROKENSHIRE