BENIN: POLITICAL UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000480

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DEPT FOR AF/E JKNIGHT; AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
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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.

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Opposition leaders protest against
the arrest of the Mayor of Dangbo
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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.

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Opposition group boycott events
of the International Day of Peace
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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

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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