VZCZCXRO9486
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0138/01 0631602
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041602Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3508
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000138 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF JUSTICE TALKS ABOUT PROSECUTIONS AND 
HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
REF: CONAKRY 0087 
 
1.(SBU) SUMMARY. In a meeting with the DCM, Minister of 
Justice Noholoamou expressed despair over the impoverished 
state of his ministry. A recent series of high profile 
drug-trafficking arrests has placed him in the unenviable 
position of prosecuting these cases with no budget and no 
institutional knowledge of how to proceed. The Minister said 
that protecting the defendants, human rights was extremely 
important and dismissed concerns about the recent "shoot on 
sight" pronouncements of President Dadis, calling them "a 
figure of speech." END SUMMARY. 
--------------- 
ONE BRIGHT SPOT 
--------------- 
2.(SBU) DCM met with the Minister of Justice, Colonel Siba 
Noholoamou, 26 February at the Ministry of Justice. Receiving 
the DCM in his army fatigues, the Minister seemed relaxed, 
friendly and focused. He accepted the DCM,s congratulations 
on the government of Guinea's recent apprehension of the 
primary suspect involved in the sexual assault and armed 
robbery of a Peace Corps Volunteer in August 2008.  The 
suspect, who had received protection from a regional police 
commissioner, had been at large for several months. To ensure 
the minister had the correct facts and names of individuals 
involved in the case, the DCM left a copy of the USG's 
original demarche delivered to two previous ministers of 
justice protesting the behavior of the police commissioner 
and encouraging a wide and active search for the suspect. 
Noholoamou acknowledged the DCM,s gratitude noting that 
everyone,s work was not finished until the suspect went to 
trial, but that the case was moving in the right direction. 
 
----------------------- 
CONTINUING DRUG ARRESTS 
----------------------- 
¶3. (SBU) The DCM then discussed the series of drug-related 
arrests, including on 25 February, of late President Conte's 
son, Ousmane Conte, widely regarded as a drug kingpin in 
Guinea.  Noholoamou confirmed that Ousmane was behind bars 
and divulged that many more arrests would take place. He also 
stated that they had received new information regarding a 
small planeload of drugs that had been seized last year in 
the regional capital of Boke. 
-------------------------- 
PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
-------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) The DCM urged the Minister to protect human rights, 
including those individuals accused of  drug-trafficking 
crimes. The Minister shared the DCM's views and reiterated 
that he did not wish to see the narco-traffickers set free in 
appellate court due to any mistreatment while incarcerated. 
He stated that he had personally instructed that these 
prisoners receive medical care, three meals daily, and visits 
from lawyers and family. (Comment. According to the 2008 
Human Rights Report, such treatment would be unusual as most 
prisoners receive little to no medical treatment, nor more 
than one meal a day, and are often denied access to visitors. 
End comment.) 
----------- 
WE,RE BROKE 
----------- 
5.(SBU) When asked how the MOJ would proceed on these drug 
cases, Noholoamou said he would like technical advice from 
the U.S. on how poor countries such as Guinea can 
successfully prosecute drug traffickers who are sure to have 
savvy lawyers. The Minister ruefully admitted that the 
Ministry of Justice is completely broke and does not even 
have a vehicle to transport prisoners from the jails to the 
court.  "How can you put a fat cat drug trafficker in front 
of a judge who can,t even buy a bicycle?" he asked 
dejectedly.   "This is a recipe for corruption." He said, 
however, that his ministry was ready to proceed.  "We will 
know when a judge makes a bogus decision, and we'll put him 
in jail." 
-------------- 
SHOOT TO KILL? 
-------------- 
¶6. (SBU) Returning to human rights, the DCM then asked the 
Minister about President Dadis, recent pronouncements that 
anyone caught drug trafficking, laundering money or 
trafficking in persons would be shot on sight (reftel).  The 
Minister softly chuckled, dismissed these concerns and said 
this was just a "figure of speech" to let the public know how 
seriously the President regarded these crimes. They were not 
to be taken literally. 
--------------------- 
 
CONAKRY 00000138  002 OF 002 
 
 
REQUESTS ASSISTANCE 
--------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) The Minister requested the USG's assistance and 
expertise in combating the drug trade and mentioned a meeting 
scheduled for that afternoon with President Dadis to discuss 
prosecution of drug traffickers.  That meeting had been 
raised earlier that morning by the Minister for Special 
Services, Anti-Narcotics and Organized Banditry, while 
talking with the RSO. The Charge determined then that neither 
the DCM nor the RSO would attend the meeting with Dadis,in 
accordance with USG stated policy toward the military junta. 
When the DCM explained our non-participation, the Minister 
expressed disappointment, but said that he understood. 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶8. (SBU) Minister of Justice Nololoamou gave the impression 
of being an intelligent, soft-spoken and serious man. His 
downtown office was rundown and crowded with individuals 
milling outside of his door seeking favors. He seemed 
frustrated by the impoverished condition of his Ministry, 
worried about corrupt judges and prisoners receiving the most 
basic services, as well as how to proceed successfully with 
the high profile cases coming his way. He appeared at a loss 
over how to overcome the problem of a corrupt judiciary.  His 
comments and concerns echoed those of the two ministers who 
held the position before him. The MOJ is one of the most 
under-funded ministries in the Guinean government.  Despite 
the CNDD's public crack-down on narcotics trafficking and 
corruption, justice is unlikely to be served without 
significant investment and judicial reform. 
 
RASPOLIC