VZCZCXRO9288
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0521/01 1971527
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161527Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5193
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1624
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000521 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PD 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI KWMN NG
SUBJECT:  Police Disperse Women's Protest with Tear Gas and Batons; 
Anti-Referendum Groups Join Forces 
 
Ref:  a) Niamey 00504, b) Niamey 00503 
 
NIAMEY 00000521  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  Security forces forcibly dispersed women demonstrating 
in Niamey on July 15 in support of the recently dismissed 
Constitutional Court and its president, using batons and tear gas to 
end a four-hour rally.  Opposition groups have formed yet another 
coalition, with calls to "actively boycott" the August 4 referendum 
for a new constitution, and promises to "intensify" protest efforts. 
 Finally, the judges union called for the reinstatement of the 
Constitutional Court and respect for judicial decisions.  All three 
called on the international community to support the restoration of 
democracy in Niger.  End summary. 
 
FNIS Forcibly Disperse Women's Protest in Support of Court 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶2.  On July 15, dozens of women supporters of the Front for the 
Defense of Democracy (FDD) marched and then assembled near the 
Constitutional Court in Niamey to hold a sit-in in support of the 
ousted Constitutional Court and its former president, Mrs. Salifou 
Fatima Bazeye.  After roughly four hours of protest, the Niger 
Intervention and Security Forces (FNIS) used tear gas to disperse 
the crowd and struck some of the participants with their batons, but 
made no arrests.  (Note:  The FNIS fall under the jurisdiction of 
the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and Public Security, and 
are not local police.  Their responsibilities, however, include the 
protection of governmental facilities.  End note.)  This represents 
the first public demonstration against the current political 
situation since the July 5 rally, which drew thousands to Niamey's 
streets (ref A).  The women then regrouped at the headquarters of an 
opposition political party, where they issued a statement. 
 
Protesters Call for Reinstatement of Court, Mobilization 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶3. The FDD women's statement raised concern about "repeated 
violations of the August 9, 1999 Constitution by Mr. Tandja Mamadou, 
who decided not to respect Article 36 that obligates him to leave 
office at the end of his second term in December 2009."  The women 
also denounced the "coup d'etat perpetrated by M. Tandja" and the 
"indoctrination of public media to the sole benefit of Tazarchists" 
(Note:  a reference to supporters of an extension of the president's 
term of office.  End note.)  They demanded the reinstatement of the 
dissolved Constitutional Court.  Further, they called on supporters 
of Niger's democracy to mobilize to defeat President Tandja's 
planned August 4 referendum for a new constitution and urged the 
international community to continue to disapprove of it. 
 
Opposition Calls for "Active Boycott" of Referendum 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶4. The women's demonstration occurred at the same time as an 
opposition call for an "active boycott" of the referendum.  On July 
16, four anti-Tazarce umbrella groups, including the FDD, the 
Movement for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (MDDR), the 
Front for Democracy and the Republic (FRD), and the Inter-Union of 
Niger's Workers (ITN) decided to create a larger coalition "to find 
the legal means to help Niger come out of the crisis created by 
President Tandja." 
 
Newly Formed Opposition Coalition to "Intensify" Struggle 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶5. The new, yet unnamed, coalition issued a statement wherein it 
regarded all the measures taken by President Tandja under his newly 
assumed emergency powers as null and void, and demanded the 
reinstatement of the Constitutional Court dissolved on June 29.  It 
also stated that the coalition would "intensify" its struggle 
against the referendum.  The coalition invited all "sincere 
democrats and convinced patriots fully aware of the dangers of 
instability to mobilize to respond to any watchword it may issue." 
The signatories of the statement urged President Tandja to 
"immediately engage in constructive dialogue" to end the difficult 
situation in which Niger finds itself.  Failing that, the coalition 
said it would hold President Tandja responsible for any "drifts" 
that may occur, and called on national and international public 
opinion as witnesses. 
 
Judges Union Calls for Reinstatement, Respect for Court 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶6. Also on July 16, the Syndicat Autonome des Magitrats du Niger 
(SAMAN), Niger's largest judges' union, issued a statement 
requesting "respect for court decisions" and the reinstatement of 
the "illegally dissolved Constitutional Court."  SAMAN called on the 
 
NIAMEY 00000521  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
international community to acknowledge the "legal inexistence" of 
the court established on July 2 (ref B) and the forcible execution 
of all powers (executive, legislative, and judiciary) by the 
President of the Republic alone. 
 
ALLEN