VZCZCXRO3133
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0727 3361537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011537Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3182
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000727 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MUTINY LEADER TORTURES SIX CAMEROONIANS 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY. According to local press and independent 
sources, mutiny leader Claude Pivi authorized the torture of 
six Cameroonian citizens for four hours on November 21 at 
Camp Alpha Yaya, a military camp.  Graphic photos depicting 
extensive burns and skin abrasions on one victim were printed 
in a local newspaper.  The GoG has not reacted to the 
incident.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) La Lance, a local independent newspaper known for its 
often satirical reporting style, printed an article on 
November 26 detailing an incident of torture that occurred on 
November 21.  Sous-Lieutenant Claude Pivi, the controversial 
leader of the May military mutiny, and five members of his 
entourage reportedly took six Cameroonian nationals into 
custody and then transported them to Camp Alpha Yaya where 
they tortured them for four hours.  The newspaper printed 
several graphic photographs showing burns and abrasions all 
over one victim's body.  DATT contacts later confirmed 
various details reported in the article. 
 
¶3.  (U) According to the article's author, Pivi and his 
entourage were dining at a restaurant in Matam (Conakry). 
After leaving the restaurant, Pivi discovered that his 
vehicle was missing a side view mirror and then accused the 
six Cameroonians of stealing it.  He immediately had his men 
seize the victims, remove their clothes, beat them, and then 
toss them into the back of the vehicle. 
 
¶4.  (U) Pivi took the victims to Camp Alpha Yaya where he 
turned them over to approximately 30 of his men.  He 
reportedly ordered his men to torture the Cameroonians.  The 
victims reported being beaten, forced to crawl naked across 
burning coals, whipped fifty times each, and then having 
burning plastic bags tossed on their bodies.  They said that 
while some of them were being beaten, soldiers threw water on 
the others' wounds.  When they were finally released, they 
were told that they could not speak of the incident or they 
would be killed. 
 
¶5.  (U) The article specifically named the six victims: 
Enama Conrad (32 years old), N'Goko Abdou (20), Djedjouo Ngou 
Ernest (31), Nganko N'Guy Merlin (33), Mory Djeli Doumbouya 
(33), and Tadiewa Leonel (28).  The victims reported that 
Pivi stole approximately $500, 400,000 GnF, 100,000 CFA, 
three cell phones, and one Cameroonian passport. 
 
¶6.  (U) Cameroon does not have diplomatic representation in 
Guinean, but has reportedly expressed its government's 
outrage at the incident through its diplomatic representation 
in Senegal. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) A military contact told DATT that the generals, who 
had just returned from a trip to China on November 28, met on 
November 29 to discuss the incident.  Contact's assessment 
was that military leadership did not know what to do to 
control Pivi.  Contact speculated that the GoG is afraid of 
Pivi and worried that any action taken against him could 
spark another military mutiny. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Other DATT contacts commented that Pivi is out of 
control and that members of his entourage may now be acting 
without Pivi's permission and/or knowledge.  Contacts said 
that Pivi and members of his entourage are regularly using 
cocaine, which is being supplied to them by the president's 
son and known drug trafficker, Ousmane Conte.  One contact 
noted that Pivi was supposed to have been in N'Zerekore on 
November 21 for his mother's funeral, but that he was so 
strung out on drugs that he did not go. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) This is the second time the Embassy has received 
reports of Pivi torturing people.  The first incident 
reportedly occurred during the May military mutiny when Pivi 
authorized the torture of dozens of captured police officers. 
 Pivi has been increasingly brazen in recent months and the 
lack of response from the Ministry of Defense suggests that 
the government may be unwilling to confront him.  END 
COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC