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FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0594
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHFT/GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000130 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS, ALSO FOR AID/AA 
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ASEC CASC PINS EAID GV
SUBJECT: NO FIREWORKS AT UNION PRESS CONFERENCE 
 
REF: CONAKRY 129 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
¶1.  (SBU) On February 1, the CNTG-USTG union coalition held 
its first press conference since the suspension of the 
general strike on January 27.  The event was ostensibly 
organized to report on meetings between the visiting 
representatives from international labor organizations and 
various local actors, including victims of strike-related 
violence.  International labor representatives gave strong 
moral support to the efforts of the Guinean federation, and 
provided some financial assistance to victims of violence and 
their families.  Although many expected a harsh and 
accusatory message by local union leaders, speakers 
transmitted a balanced message to journalists, acknowledging 
government efforts to uphold the signed accord.  They 
expressed concern that although they were assured by 
government officials that all detainees had been released, at 
least 13 persons remain in prison for their involvement in 
the strike.  While they did not give any firm deadline, the 
unions said that if the government does not appoint a prime 
minister soon, or chooses a strawman for the job, they will 
resume the general strike.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Guinea's Unions Acknowledge Government Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.  (SBU) While many expected fireworks, and some may have 
hoped for a call to action, the union press conference 
February 1 remained controlled and professional.  Union 
leaders Rabiatou Serah Diallo, CNTG General Secretary, and 
Ibrahima Fofana, USTG General Secretary, acknowledged 
government efforts to uphold the tripartite agreement signed 
on January 27 by taking measures to make rice and fuel 
available at lower fixed prices.  They stated that while 
Conte had taken the first step in signing the decree 
outlining the attributions of a prime minister, they expected 
the appointment "yesterday" of an individual to fill this 
position.  When asked by one of the journalists if she would 
be willing to serve as a minister, Diallo emphatically 
replied, "Absolutely not.  We are the guardians of the 
process, we cannot be part of it.  We have a mission and we 
will pursue it until the very end." 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The unions gave no date by which they expected 
President Conte to appoint a prime minister.  Instead, they 
said they will give the government the opportunity to uphold 
its promises, but that Guinea's workers cannot wait for long. 
 When asked what they would do if Conte appointed a strawman 
to the position, Diallo and Fofana both stated, "We will once 
again call for a general strike."  Contrary to rumors that a 
strike will begin on February 5, the union leaders did not 
set any specific deadlines or describe planned actions. 
 
------------------------------ 
International Union Solidarity 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) As a member of international trade union 
federations, the CNTG-USTG union coalition enjoyed 
significant international labor support for its efforts 
during the strike.  Over the past week, the unions hosted Guy 
Ryder, General Secretary of the International Trade Union 
Confederation (CSI), and his associates,  CSI boasts over 168 
million members in 153 countries.  In addition to CSI, 
Guinea's union leaders also publicly thanked Johanna 
Walbrave, Director of the Department of Social Dialogue from 
the International Labor Organization (ILO), and leaders from 
labor coalitions in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Togo. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) After being introduced by Fofana, Guy Ryder told 
the press that he and his comrades were in Guinea to show 
solidarity and support for Guinea's labor movement and for 
the general strike to defend worker's rights.  Ryder said 
this trip marks the first official visit of support by CSI 
since its creation in 2006.  Ryder said that since being 
elected as a member of CSI's Executive Bureau, Rabiatou Serah 
Diallo has become a symbol of the continuing struggle for 
workers worldwide.  He emphasized that in meetings with the 
First Lady, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs 
Eugene Camara and the Presidents of the Supreme Court, 
National Assembly, and Economic and Social Council, 
international labor and local union leaders insisted that all 
 
CONAKRY 00000130  002 OF 002 
 
 
actors must abide by the commitments in the January 27 
tripartite agreement. 
 
--------------------------------- 
"They Will Not Remain Unpunished" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Ryder said they saw the brutal and inhumane results 
of actions by Guinea's security forces during visits to 
victims still hospitalized.  Ryder told the journalists that 
contrary to assurances by Minister of State Camara and 
Supreme Court President Lamine Sidime, at least 13 persons 
were still being held in Conakry's central prison and more 
may be in prisons in the interior for activities in 
connection with the strike.  He and Guinea's union leaders 
planned to meet with the Minister of Justice directly 
following the press conference to urge their release.  (Note: 
Sources at the prison confirm that 7 of the 13 detainees were 
released after the union meeting with the Minister of 
Justice.  The other cases are still under review.) 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In addition to adherence to the signed protocol, 
Ryder called on the Guinean government to establish a 
national committee to investigate the killings and prosecute 
the perpetrators.  When asked if there should be an 
international process, Ryder replied that we should first 
give the government the opportunity, but if this fails, "They 
will not remain unpunished."  Ryder cautioned that CSI is in 
close contact with European Union Commissioner for 
Humanitarian Development Louis Michel and has urged the EC to 
weigh recent events when considering disbursement of funds 
under the 9th EFD.  Ryder said that if the government fails 
to bring the killers to justice, CSI will use its influence 
to make sure that benefits from the IMF, World Bank and other 
institutions are suspended until the government acts. (Note: 
The Minister of Justice later told the unions he would 
establish a committee of investigation, to include union 
representatives and representatives from several Ministries, 
including Security.  We do not yet know if he has the 
agreement of other members of the government for this 
initiative.) 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The international labor delegation reportedly 
provided funds (USD 10,000 and a sum in euros) for assisting 
victims of violence and their families. 
 
¶8.  (C) Comment.  Many Guineans expected (and even hoped) 
that the unions would use their press conference to renew a 
call to action.  Instead, the unions struck a resolute, but 
collaborative tone.  Some union members have accused the 
leaders of "selling out" by acknowledging government efforts 
to date.  With no firm deadline for the appointment of a 
prime minister, the unions have diminished leverage to speed 
the government search for the "right" person.  Rallying 
international support, Guinea's unions are assuring that any 
future action will have the attention of a global audience, 
hoping to minimize violence while forcing reforms.  However, 
union leaders have told us privately that they cannot control 
the street.  While there is no immediate union call for 
action, they caution that the population will not wait 
indefinitely for the government to adhere to the number one 
demand to appoint a prime minister to head a consensus 
government. 
 
MCDONALD