VZCZCXRO0355
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0100/01 0431524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121524Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3436
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SOCI ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH DADIS DISAPPOINTS CIVIL SOCIETY 
 
REF: CONAKRY 0096 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  During a nationally broadcast meeting 
with civil and political leaders, CNDD President Dadis was 
aggressive, vague, and noncommittal.  Despite the CNDD's 
February 7 announcement that elections will take place in 
late 2009, Dadis danced around the subject and refused to be 
pinned down on a date and the duration of the transition. 
Dadis publicly lauded certain political leaders and 
disparaged others.  Using appeals for patriotism and respect 
for security, he attempted to justify some of his more 
controversial decisions.  Contacts reported mixed reactions, 
but most agreed that the meeting was not what they were 
hoping for.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Following the critical declarations issued by 
Guinean civil society and political parties last week 
(reftel), Moussa Dadis Camara, President of the National 
Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), met with a wide 
range of civil and political actors on February 9 at the 
People's Palace.  Hadja Sera Rabiatou, co-leader of the 
Unions Intersyndicale, spoke on behalf of the population, 
essentially reiterating the demands civil society defined 
last week.  Dadis spoke at length and was described by some 
observers as aggressive and rude, while monopolizing the 
microphone. 
 
-------------------------- 
A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Dadis claimed that the CNDD's seizure of power was 
legitimate not only because of obvious popular support, but 
also because of the willingness of civil society leaders to 
work with the CNDD to navigate the political transition.  He 
reiterated the CNDD's commitment to organize elections and 
restore civilian rule, but was vague when it came to election 
dates and a concrete timeline for the transition. 
 
---------------------------- 
DEMONSTRATING POLITICAL BIAS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Dadis doled out high praise to some opposition 
political leaders, including Alpha Conde (Rally for the 
Guinean People - RPG) and Jean Marie Dore (Guinean Union for 
Progress - UPG), while disparaging anyone who had anything to 
do with the Conte regime.  Dadis stated that he would not 
turn power over to any corrupt officials, including anyone 
who had associated with the Conte regime.  Dadis complimented 
Alpha Conde and Jean Marie Dore for their integrity as 
characterized by their refusal to participate in the past 
government. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
SIX MONTHS, TWELVE MONTHS...IT'S UP TO YOU 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) After Rabiatou finished speaking, Dadis reportedly 
seized a copy of the declaration and started commenting on 
each point, without consulting the CNDD.  On the question of 
an election date, Dadis said "six months, twelve months...it 
is not up to us to set the electoral calendar, this is a job 
for the people of Guinea."  He invited the audience to submit 
proposals, which he promised to review.  (COMMENT.  Only a 
few days earlier, the CNDD had announced that elections would 
take place in the last quarter of 2009.  Dadis made no such 
reference.  END COMMENT).  Civil society participants told 
Pol LES that Dadis was equally cagey on the question of the 
duration of the transition period, providing no indication of 
whether or not he was willing to cede power within the year. 
Civil society demanded that the transition be completed no 
later than December 2009. 
 
---------------------- 
DEMOCRACY, NOT ANARCHY 
---------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Civil society also demanded that the CNDD remove the 
many military roadblocks that the CNDD has erected throughout 
the capital and the interior.  Dadis claimed that these 
roadbocks are necessary tools for enforcing the government's 
commitment to fight drug trafficking, human trafficking, 
money laundering, and armed robbery.  "There is no 
development without security.  There is no democracy without 
security.  There will be no elections without security," he 
said. 
 
¶7.  (U) On the question of lifting the CNDD's ban on 
 
CONAKRY 00000100  002 OF 002 
 
 
political and labor activity, Dadis again provided no real 
response, saying only that he believed in liberty and 
democracy, but also in order, not anarchy. 
 
------------ 
HUMAN RIGHTS 
------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Rabiatou raised the issue of investigating the 
human rights abuses of 2006 and 2007.  According to 
participants, Dadis said civil society was welcome to conduct 
any investigations that they want, and that the CNDD would 
not block their efforts.  Political leader Mouctar Diallo 
commented that Dadis was clearly uneasy with the question, 
and that his tone and facial expression revealed his distaste 
for the subject. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) At one point, Dadis reportedly reiterated his 
decision to immediately impose the death penalty for anyone 
involved in narco-trafficking, child trafficking, armed 
robbery, and money laundering.  All of a sudden, he 
interrupted himself saying "I see that the German Ambassador 
is watching me intently as I talk about the death 
penalty...you know the Managing Director of BICIGUI (French) 
was attacked last week, which could have affected Guinea's 
relationship with France and eventually discourage 
investors...that is why I am advocating for this 
punishment...it is for your own safety."  (COMMENT.  While 
able confirm the attack on the BICIGUI Director, Embassy is 
unaware of any other Western diplomats attending the meeting. 
 END COMMENT). 
 
--------- 
REACTIONS 
--------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Observers interpreted Dadis' repeated slights of 
former government officials as applying specifically to 
opposition leaders Sidya Toure (Union of Republican Forces - 
UFR) and Cellou Diallo (Union of Guinean Forces for Democracy 
- UFDG).  Sidya told Pol LES on February 10 that he had mixed 
feelings about the speech in general, but that he personally 
was not worried.  He said that the ongoing audits would 
reveal nothing because he had done nothing wrong during his 
tenure as prime minister.  Mouctar Diallo, president of a 
relatively new youth party, told Pol LES that he found Dadis' 
comments on political leaders disturbing.  "He should not be 
expressing his personal preference...the justice system 
should decide who is corrupt and ineligible to run for 
election...Dadis is taking sides." 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Political leader Ousmane Bah's (Union for Progress 
and Renewal - UPR) impression of the meeting was generally 
negative.  He told Pol LES that Dadis spent a lot of time 
talking, but not really saying anything.  "He was just 
repeating previous speeches," Bah said, adding that Dadis 
avoided specifics on elections and the transition itself. 
Jean-Marie Dore (UPG) was more positive, saying that Dadis' 
insistence that the population determine an election timeline 
reflects Dadis' interest in ensuring that political parties 
are involved in the transition process.  According to Dore, 
Dadis is beginning to react more seriously to internal and 
international pressure, but that he should be watched closely. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Many contacts said that they were hoping to have a 
frank discussion about the political transition, with clear 
progress toward an election date and a defined transition 
timeline.  Most were disappointed.  Despite the CNDD having 
announced that elections will take place by the end of 2009, 
Dadis' statements suggest that he may not be on board with 
that plan.  He was quick to justify his recent decisions and 
behavior with calls for patriotism and the need for national 
security.  Dadis' singling out of specific political leaders 
suggests that he may be becoming more politicized.  Civil and 
political leaders planned to regroup in order to determine 
how best to react to Monday's meeting.  END COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC