VZCZCXRO2375
RR RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0441/01 2701136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261136Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6479
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1723
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1537
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2337
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0482
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0516
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1783
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1003
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000441
SIPDIS
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF, AF/C, AF/EPS,
AND AF/RSA
ADDIS ALSO FOR AU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF ECON PHUM UN LY CT CD
SUBJECT: CHAD CHRONICLE: SEPT 15-26, 2008
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EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO LEAVE CHAD
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1. THERE WAS MUCH PRESS DISCUSSSION DURING THE WEEK REGARDING
REPLACEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE BY AN EXPANDED UNITED
NATIONS PRESENCE. DESPITE GIVING SPACE TO OXFAM CRITICISMS SAYING
THAT NO IMPROVEMENT OF THE SECURITY SITUATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON
THE GROUND AS WELL AS OXFAM'S ALLEGATION THAT NGOS CONTINUE TO BE
THREATENED, THE MEDIA WAS GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT EUFOR'S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE PROPSED FOLLOW-ON ARRANGEMENTS.
---------------- -------------------------
THE CASE OF HISSEIN HABRE IN SENEGAL
------------------ -----------------------
2. FOURTEEN (14) VICTIMS OF FORMER CHADIAN PRESIDENT HISSEIN HABRE
(12 CHADIANS AND 2 SENEGALESE) FILED A NEW COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM IN
DAKAR. LAWYER JACQUELINE MOUDEINA SAID THAT THE COMPLAINT ARISES
FROM THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS PERPETRATED BY HABRE'S INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE (OFFICE OF DOCUMENTATION AND SECURITY - DDS). VICTIMS
BELIEVE THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR A VALID TRIAL IN 2008 ARE MUCH BETTER
THAN THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN 2000 WHEN THEY FIRST SOUGHT
REDRESS.
------------------- ----------------------
INSECURITY
------------------- ---------------------
3. POLICE HAVE RESUMED FOOT PATROLS IN N'DJAMENA IN AREAS WHERE
THERE IS LIMITED VEHICLE ACCESS. AS A RESULT OF THE PATROLS NEW
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, GENERAL MAHAMT ACHAKIR YOUSSOUF, TOLD
THE PRESS THAT CROOKS WERE ARRESTED. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THEIR
ACTIVITIES CONTINUE. ADDITIONALLY, CHAD AND CAMEROON HAVE JOINED
EFFORTS TO INTERDICT MOVEMENT OF BANDITS AND RUSTLERS ACROSS THEIR
COMMON BORDER. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR OF CHAD'S WEST MAYO KEBBI
PROVINCE, MR. HISSEIN AHMAT DJIMET, THE SITUATION IS NOW UNDER
CONTROL.
------------------- ----------------------
PREPARATION OF THE GENERAL BUDGET FOR CHAD IN 2009
------------------- ----------------------
4. NEW MINISTER OF FINANCE, GATA NGOULOU, SAID THE GOVERNMENT PLANS
TO REDUCE EXPENDITURES IN 2009. HE SAID MILITARY COSTS ARE TOO HIGH
AND THE INSTITUTION OF BETTER CONTROLS CAN SAVE MONEY. MINISTERIAL
MEETINGS TO FRAME THE BUDGET FOR 2009 ARE UNDERWAY.
-------------------- --------------------
EDUCATION
-------------------- ---------------------
5. STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF N'DJAMENA PROMISE TO STRIKE IF
THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOT PAID BEFORE SEPTEMBER 25, 2008. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PAID STIPENDS FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
------------------ -----------------------
BAD MILK
------------------ -----------------------
6. THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS, ADC, WARNED
THE POPULATION AGAINST THE USE OF CHINESE MILK. REPORTEDLY CHAD IS
ONE OF THE COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED TAINTED MILK. ALTHOUGH
NO POISONINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED, CONSUMERS WERE ASKED TO BE
VIGILANT.
------------------- ---------------------
ECONOMY
------------------- ----------------------
7. THE BANK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES, BDEAC,
ORGANIZED AN "OPEN HOUSE" ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 IN N'DJAMENA TO
EXPLAIN TO CHADIAN BUSINESSMEN THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING PROJECT
LOANS. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING PROJECTS, THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES
SUPPORT FOR INITIAL FEASIBLITY STUDIES. FOR THE PERIOD OF 2008 -
2012, 220 BILLION CFA ARE AVAILABLE TO FUND PROJECTS IN THE CEMAC
ZONE.
-------------------- ---------------------
MEDIA
-------------------- --------------------
8. THE ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE PRESS EDITORS MET TO DISCUSS HIGHER
PRODUCTION COSTS LINKED TO A JUMP IN PRINTING CHARGES LEVIED BY
PRINTERS. EDITORS PREVIOUSLY COMPLANTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF
NDJAMENA 00000441 002 OF 002
THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS, EXPLAINING THAT CENSORSHIP BROUGHT ON BY
THE SECURITY CRISIS IN N'DJAMENA LAST FEBRUARY 2008 COUPLED WITH
COST AUGMENTATIONS RISKS THE LOSS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN CHAD.
GRIBBIN