ICC TO BEGIN SECOND PHASE OF INVESTIGATION; FORCES

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000118 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL GV SUBJECT: ICC TO BEGIN SECOND PHASE OF INVESTIGATION; FORCES VIVES AGREES TO REGISTER DIASPORA REF: A. CONAKRY 00111 ¶B. CONAKRY 00117 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In a press conference on February 19, Fatou Ben Souda, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC),announced that Crimes Against Humanity were likely committed in Guinea (reftel A). After three days in country, Ben Souda announced that the ICC would officially start the investigation phase of their case concerning these crimes. In other news, the Forces Vives, in consultations with the National Election Commission (CENI),determined that Guineans abroad should be registered to vote in upcoming elections. END SUMMARY. -------------- CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY WERE LIKELY COMMITTED -------------- ¶2. (U) After completing the assessment phase of their case, the ICC determined that crimes against humanity were committed on September 28, 2009. According to Ben Souda, the team was ultimately given access to all government ministries of interest, and was welcome to speak with all relevant officials. The Court has officially determined that the crimes fall under their jurisdiction, automatically spurring phase two of the process: the investigation phase. During this phase, the ICC will apparently send a team to Guinea to independently investigate the crimes that were committed and identify those responsible for them. The team has not yet determined when the second phase should begin, but announced that the process should be completed in a "timely manner." -------------- -------------- FORCES VIVES CALLS FOR REGISTRATION OF GUINEANS ABROAD -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) The Forces Vives met at spokesperson Francois Fall's FUDEC headquarters this afternoon to address whether the CENI should include Guineans abroad in the upcoming presidential elections (reftel B). After intense discussion, the Forces Vives determined that the CENI should make a strong effort to register as many in the diaspora as possible, arguing that they have played an important role in pushing for democracy and funding party activities. However, the Forces Vives decided that the registration should be done in a way that would not delay the election timeline beyond the end of June. According to members of the Forces Vives, the CENI is to write up a technical plan to address the issue of registration by Friday afternoon. CENI President Ben Sekou Sylla will reportedly present this plan to the Forces Vives and Minister of Territorial Administration and Political Affairs (MATAP). At the conclusion of the meeting, Fall reiterated that the international community is looking to the Forces Vives to make sure elections are on track, and that they cannot afford to loose international support by delaying elections for any reason - even if that means that the Guinean diaspora cannot be registered in full. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (U) The Forces Vives seem committed to registering Guineans abroad, if it can be done in time for late June elections. It is important to note that the Guinean diaspora is politically active and provides significant funding to many political parties. So it is no surprise that party leaders want to enfranchise their diaspora backers. However, it will be important to learn how the CENI plans to register Guineans abroad in time for an end-of-June polling date. Moller