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.

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COMMENT
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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