BENIN: POLITICAL UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000480 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT; AF/W ACOOK LONDON FOR PETER LORD PARIS FOR BKANEDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL BN SUBJECT: BENIN: POLITICAL UPDATE ¶1. Content: -- Opposition leaders protest against the arrest of the Mayor of Dangbo -- Opposition parties boycott events of International Day of Peace. -------------- Opposition leaders protest against the arrest of the Mayor of Dangbo -------------- ¶2. On October 7, leaders of the opposition alliance "Union Makes the Nation" (UN) led a march in Dangbo, in the southeast of Benin, to protest against the arrest of Clement Gnonlonfou, the mayor of Dangbo, charged with embezzlementof public funds. On October 12, UN coordinated a imilar march in the administrative capital of Poto-Novo. The main opposition figures who attended he two protests included Adrien Houngbedji, Presdent of the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD),IdjiKolawole, Vice-President of the African Movement or Democracy and Progress (MADEP),Lazare Sehoueto President of the Key Force Party, Sacca Fikara,the President of the Movement for Democracy and olidarity (MDS),Christian Sossouhounto and Lehai, representatives of the Renaissance of Benin Part (RB). In both cities, large crowds of supporter chanted slogans hostile to President Yayi Boni nd his government, and opposition leaders deliveed inflammatory messages to local authorities. . Opposition leaders pointed to Yayi's attempt to "ow the seeds of division" among the community ofDangbo. They said that Gnonlonfoun's arrest was a plot woven and ordered by individuals in the py of the government". Opposition leaders denouncedthe Minister of Justice, Victor Topanou's allegedinterference in the judicial process and declare that Gnonlonfoun's arrest was arbitrary, an abue and a political maneuver to destabilize the oposition. They called on other political forces, woen and youth to join hands in the fight. Opposition leaders were denied access to Gnonlonfoun by the Director of Porto-Novo's prison on the grounds that they had not obtained the required authorization from the Court Prosecutor prior to the visit. ¶4. In August, Pro-Yayi members of Dangbo's Town Council accused Gonlonfoun of taking 2.640.000 FCFA ($ 5280) from the treasury, without the approval of Council members. Gnonlonfoun denied any involvement in this act, and accused the Administrative and Financial Officer of the Town Council, of forging his signature on a check to withdraw the money. Though the accused Mayor proclaimed his innocence, Council members referred the case to the Court of Porto-Novo which ordered his arrest. ¶5. On September 23, the judge who heard Gnonlonfoun ruled that he was not competent to handle the case on the grounds that he normally takes care of caught-in-the act offences and ordered Gnonlonfoun's release. The Prosecutor of Porto-Novo kept Gnonlonfoun in prison and challenged the judge's decision before the Court. On October 9, the Court of Appeals confirmed Gnonlonfoun's detention and instructed the court of Porto-Novo to pursue legal action. On October 10, the General Prosecutor, Georges Amoussou, said on TV that the arrest of Gnonlonfoun was legal since he was under grave suspicion of embezzlement of public funds and fraud. Amoussou contended that the judge, who initially heard Gnonlonfoun, though not competent, should not have ordered his release. He noted that that in an attempt to correct this judicial mistake the Prosecutor had lodged an appeal to have Gnonlonfoun detained and to process the case. Pursuant to the Court of Appeals ruling, the case is referred back to the court of Porto-Novo where an investigating judge will pursue legal action, Amoussou says. He denied allegations that the government interfered in the judicial process for Gnonlonfoun. -------------- Opposition group boycott events of the International Day of Peace -------------- ¶6. Major opposition parties boycotted events coordinated by the government to celebrate the "Week of Peace", September 21-27, in Benin. On September 18, the alliance UN sent a letter to the UNDP Resident Representative to Benin, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, to inform her of the opposition's wish to boycott the week-long event that the government had planned to launch, in conjunction with the UNDP office, for the September 21 International Day of Peace. The UN alliance, in vitriolic language, complained about President Yayi and his government's repeated attempts to hinder civil liberties, good governance, peace and democracy. The UN alliance reproached the government for controlling the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, and for failing to hold fair COTONOU 00000480 002 OF 002 legislative and local elections in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Opposition leaders underscored that President Yayi wanted to take advantage of the celebration by pretending to be a champion of peace in front of the international community. Therefore, the UN alliance asked the UNDP representative to refrain from sponsoring the event. The events connected with the peace celebration, however, went forward as planned from September 21 to September 28. No members of the opposition attended the events including the official closing ceremony for the events when "the torch of Peace" was symbolically handed over to President Yayi. ¶7. COMMENT: Election campaigning starts early in Benin and the opposition's attacks on President Yayi underline their resentment of his perceived failure to win opposition's trust and support. Public demonstrations and personal attacks are likely to intensify in the run-up to the 2011 presidential elections and exacerbate political tension. END COMMENT BOUSTANI