Cablegate: Mnsd Issues Communique Critical of Junta

VZCZCXRO2480
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0204/01 0552154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 242153Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0039
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDHP/DIA DHP-1 WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0007
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000204

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI NG
SUBJECT: MNSD Issues Communique Critical of Junta

1. On February 24, state-owned daily newspaper "Le Sahel" published
the following statement by the National Movement for a Developing
Society - Nassara (MNSD - the ruling party under the previous
regime of President Tandja):

(Begin text - informal Embassy translation)

The MNSD National Party Executives are making the following
statement today, February 21, 2010, to analyze the country's
political situation, created by the military coup on February 18,
2010:

On February 18, 2010, for the 4th time in fifty years of
independence, the Defense and Security Forces have seized power at
the very moment when a Government's Ministers Council was being
held;

After seizing the President of Republic, His Excellency Mamadou
Tandja, and all the members of the Government who were present, the
junta announced, early on in the evening, that they had put an end
to the 6th Republic regime, suspended the Constitution, and
dissolved all the related institutions.

The coup, which has caused loss of life, wounded many people, and
caused significant material damages, was perpetrated against the
regime in place, on the pretext that there was a "tense political
situation," fully knowing that joint efforts were made in order to
achieve a quick and satisfactory conclusion to the Inter-Nigerien
Political Dialogue, led under the aegis of ECOWAS.

The MNSD National Party Executives would like to present their
sincere condolences to the deceased families and wish a quick
recovery to the wounded individuals. In their statement, the coup
authors abusively and unfairly qualified the regime as dishonest,
corrupt, and bankrupt in order to justify their offense.

How could anyone be indifferent to such allegations that seem to be
putting words into somebody's mouth? In fact, is there any honest
Nigerien who can ignore the courageous measures taken by President
Mamadou Tandja to claim the sovereignty of Niger through the daring
mine and oil politics that he initiated and implemented? How can
someone not acknowledge here the President of Republic's Special
Program and the infrastructure started on the national level and in
all the regions of our dear country that have highly contributed to
improve quantitatively and qualitatively the living conditions of
our courageous populations?

How could anyone seem to forget that, as far as democracy and
human rights are concerned, that President Mamadou Tandja is a
model, whether the detractors and all kinds of gossipmongers and
brainwashers like it or not!

Mr. President Mamadou Tandja, MNSD-Nassara thanks and congratulates
you. Our party, your party, will always remain faithful and
grateful to you.

The MNSD National Party Executives energetically condemn the
February 18, 2010 coup and hold its authors responsible for any
risk of fallout and deterioration of the political, social, and
economical situation in our country.

Therefore, the MNSD National Party Executives will take note of the

***********************
* Missing Section 002 *
***********************

© Scoop Media