National Police Prevent Former National Assembly Members

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000812 DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG SUBJECT: National Police Prevent Former National Assembly Members from Organizing Ref: Niamey 00618 ¶1. On October 6, national police prevented 67 former National Assembly members from accessing the headquarters of the Nigerien Democratic Movement (MODEN),an opposition party created by former Prime Minister Hama Amadou. The former parliamentarians had planned to organize a symbolic "opening of the National Assembly Session" challenging the legislative elections slated for October 20 under the new constitution. Police, seeming to have insider knowledge of the unscheduled event, interrupted their plan by preventing entry to the building. There were no reports of violence or arrests. ¶2. Comment: This attempt to undermine publicly the legitimacy of the GON is not new. On August 24, the Coordination of Forces for Democracy and the Republic (CFDR) held a town hall meeting during which 50 former parliamentarians proposed a resolution to reinstate the National Assembly (reftel). No resolution was enacted, and this second failed attempt illustrates the opposition's inability to de-legitimize the GON. End comment. WHITAKER