CONAKRY RELATIVELY CALM AS CITIZENS FOCUS ON

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000603 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV SUBJECT: CONAKRY RELATIVELY CALM AS CITIZENS FOCUS ON MOURNING MONDAY'S VICTIMS ¶1. (SBU) Conakry remains relatively calm as of 1300 on September 30, although there have been sporadic reports of violence. There was a small demonstration in Taouyah with youths throwing rocks, but police intervened and peacefully dispersed the crowd. There are currently reports of gunfire in the Bambeto and Cosa neighborhoods with gendarmes seen responding. Contacts reported extensive looting in Cosa during the night, which has prompted shopkeepers to respond by removing all of their goods to their homes. ¶2. (SBU) ECON and PAS LES staff members called in after hearing reports on BBC and RFI regarding a group of men identified as Forestiers apparently roaming through Cosa, firing guns into the air. Shouting "Dadis, Dadis, Dadis," the men are reportedly wearing red bandanas and civilian attire. Another contact claimed that this same group was saying things like "we will kill all the Fulanis" (Peuhl). These civilian "militias" may have been accompanied by uniformed soldiers. (COMMENT. Embassy picked up a report yesterday suggesting that certain Forestiers have taken to wearing red bandanas, possibly as a sign of solidarity. Some say that the red is meant to symbolize blood. END COMMENT). ¶3. (SBU) Conversations with key youth contacts indicate that no major mass movements are planned for today as socio-political actors are focused on organizing a national funeral for the victims of Monday's violence. Sources report that youth remain enraged and are planning to react, but that their first priority is to honor the dead. However, to do so, they need to reclaim the bodies that the military took into Camp Alpha Yaya. Their focus today is on "negotiating" with Guinean authorities in order to arrange the funeral. Contacts insist that the funeral be public and widely attended in order to demonstrate the extent of the violence. ¶4. (U) CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara announced over national television and radio yesterday evening that September 30 and October 1 would be observed as national days of mourning with October 2 and October 3 being days of prayer. (COMMENT. October 2 is Guinea's national independence holiday. END COMMENT). ¶5. (SBU) Although the current focus seems to be on the funeral, youth contacts emphasized that the battle is far from over. Various groups are still holding meetings to decide on a course of action. The current consensus seems to be that they will push for a national "movement" of the Forces Vives to demonstrate sustained opposition to the junta regime. They gave no timeframe for this national movement except to say that it would be put in motion once the bodies are in the ground. Contacts stressed that the CNDD's time is over and they must force an end to the military transition. ¶6. (SBU) With respect to reactions in the interior, contacts aid that local populations are planning to implement "ville morts" in many of the regional urban centers. Such ville morts involve a total shutdown of businesses and public services with everyone staying home. Contact mentioned that such plans may be put in place as early as today in places like Faranah, Mamou, and Labe. Embassy has not yet received confirmation of such activity. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The situation remains relatively calm, but uneasy. The city is approaching the point where people need to be able to get out to markets in order to buy food (septel to address economic situation). Dadis conveniently shifted the country's focus to mourning, but people remain enraged over the situation. Many contacts are resolute in their conviction that Dadis' time is over. Before Monday, they were focused on ensuring that he refrained from presenting himself as a candidate. They have moved beyond that stage and are now indicating that they will accept no less than a complete removal of the junta. ¶8. (SBU) Although there are no organized movements planned for today, spontaneous incidents of violence are likely to continue, particularly in the Hamdallaye-Bambeto-Cosa corridor. If youths organize to demand the bodies of the slain and the military refuses to turn them over, this could also be a flashpoint for violence. END COMMENT. BROKENSHIRE