Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NIAMEY495
2009-07-01 16:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
Niger: Police Detain Opposition Party President; FDD Holds
how-toVZCZCXRO3950 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #0495 1821623 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 011623Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5163 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000495
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PREL NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Police Detain Opposition Party President; FDD Holds
"Dead City" Strike in Niamey
Ref: Niamey 00484
Opposition Leader Detained
--------------------------
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000495
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PREL NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Police Detain Opposition Party President; FDD Holds
"Dead City" Strike in Niamey
Ref: Niamey 00484
Opposition Leader Detained
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 30, police temporarily detained and questioned
Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Niger Party for Democracy and
Socialism (PNDS),the main opposition party. Reports indicated that
several hundred supporters of Issoufou assembled outside the
gendarmerie headquarters where he was being detained, demanding his
immediate release. After his release a couple of hours later,
Issoufou told journalists that he was asked to confirm the
pronouncements he made on June 27 following the dissolution of the
Constitutional Court on June 26. Issoufou reiterated that the Front
for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) made a statement in which it
denounced President Tandja's decision to assume exceptional powers
and that to dissolve the Constitutional Court was a violation of the
Constitution. He further stated that the FDD had demanded the
resignation of President Tandja and called defense and security
forces to refrain from executing obviously unlawful orders as
provided by the Constitution and the law.
FDD Holds "Dead City" Strike in Niamey
--------------
2. (SBU) On July 1, the Front for the Defense of Democracy (FDD),a
group of political parties, labor unions, and civil society
organizations, held nationwide strikes in response to President
Tandja's June 26 unilateral decision to provide himself exceptional
powers to rule by decree and his subsequent dissolution of the
Constitutional Court on June 29. The FDD opposes the President
Tandja's plans for a constitutional referendum that would allow him
to remain in power. According to various reports and mission
observers, the public sector partially observed the strike and some
private businesses closed. Many of the larger markets remained
open, however, with police standing vigilant. Traffic seems to be
slightly lighter than usual, but varies depending on the
neighborhood. Local media reported that similar partial strikes
took place in Zinder as well as several other cities. At mid-day,
the strikes did not seem to have had the effect that the opposition
expected.
Allen
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PREL NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Police Detain Opposition Party President; FDD Holds
"Dead City" Strike in Niamey
Ref: Niamey 00484
Opposition Leader Detained
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 30, police temporarily detained and questioned
Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Niger Party for Democracy and
Socialism (PNDS),the main opposition party. Reports indicated that
several hundred supporters of Issoufou assembled outside the
gendarmerie headquarters where he was being detained, demanding his
immediate release. After his release a couple of hours later,
Issoufou told journalists that he was asked to confirm the
pronouncements he made on June 27 following the dissolution of the
Constitutional Court on June 26. Issoufou reiterated that the Front
for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) made a statement in which it
denounced President Tandja's decision to assume exceptional powers
and that to dissolve the Constitutional Court was a violation of the
Constitution. He further stated that the FDD had demanded the
resignation of President Tandja and called defense and security
forces to refrain from executing obviously unlawful orders as
provided by the Constitution and the law.
FDD Holds "Dead City" Strike in Niamey
--------------
2. (SBU) On July 1, the Front for the Defense of Democracy (FDD),a
group of political parties, labor unions, and civil society
organizations, held nationwide strikes in response to President
Tandja's June 26 unilateral decision to provide himself exceptional
powers to rule by decree and his subsequent dissolution of the
Constitutional Court on June 29. The FDD opposes the President
Tandja's plans for a constitutional referendum that would allow him
to remain in power. According to various reports and mission
observers, the public sector partially observed the strike and some
private businesses closed. Many of the larger markets remained
open, however, with police standing vigilant. Traffic seems to be
slightly lighter than usual, but varies depending on the
neighborhood. Local media reported that similar partial strikes
took place in Zinder as well as several other cities. At mid-day,
the strikes did not seem to have had the effect that the opposition
expected.
Allen