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Viewing cable 09CONAKRY615, CNDD PLANS TO RELEASE 58 BODIES TO GRAND MOSQUE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CONAKRY615 2009-10-02 12:21 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Conakry
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRY #0615 2751221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADBDBDA6 AMG4034-695)
R 021221Z OCT 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4112
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000615 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  COPY - REMOVED SENSITIVE CAPTION 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM ASEC PREL PGOV SOCI GV
SUBJECT: CNDD PLANS TO RELEASE 58 BODIES TO GRAND MOSQUE 
 
REF: CONAKRY 00611 
 
1. (U) At least 58 bodies of victims of the September 28 
violence will be returned today, according to government 
press releases and religious leaders. The government, which 
maintains that only 58 people were killed in the violence, 
will be releasing the bodies to Conakry's Grand Mosque at 
1030 this morning. Apparently the mosque will be providing a 
short service, and then releasing the bodies to the 
designated family members. 
 
 
2. (U) Some sources who were planning to demonstrate in a 
"Red March" (reftel), have decided to delay the rally out of 
respect for today's funeral. Although the rally may still 
occur due to yesterday's wide-scale SMS dissemination 
regarding the event, many would-be demonstrators may prefer 
to keep the peace during the funerals. 
 
 
3. (U) The government's confiscation and subsequent failure 
to return the September 28 victims' bodies remain a rallying 
point for opposition forces, and will most likely continue to 
be until the government returns the estimated 150 other 
bodies to their families. Dadis and the CNDD still holds that 
a majority of those killed in the attacks died as a result of 
a general stampede. On the contrary, humanitarian groups 
argue that a majority of those killed and wounded were 
stabbed, beaten, shot, or raped. 
 
 
4. (U) In a country where rumors abound, the mystery of the 
missing bodies has become the subject of much speculation. 
Some sources have reported that Pivi himself has been loading 
dead bodies onto helicopters whose destination is unknown. 
Others report that they have seen mass graves at Camp Alpha 
Yaya. One local journalist published an interview with a Camp 
Alpha Yaya escapee who said that he and three others were 
forced to dig graves at the camp and were then promptly shot 
by soldiers. The witness says that he pretended to be dead 
until he had the opportunity to flee the camp. 
 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
 
5. (U) Although it is unclear where the bodies are being 
kept, the military is most likely trying to keep them out of 
the public eye so they can continue to underestimate the 
number of dead as well as the causes of death. The decision 
to release some of the bodies on Guinea's Independence Day is 
most likely intentional, as several protests were planned for 
the historical anniversary. 
BROKENSHIRE