Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Conakry (Agenzia Fides) – The number of victims is now at 128 following the repression of the demonstration held yesterday, September 28 in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea. This is what was affirmed by a member of the opposition party. The demonstration, not authorized by the opposition party, was organized in protest against the military regime, which came to power 9 months ago after a coups d'etat.
Originally, the press spoke of 58 victims. Agenzia Fides has received the following testimony from local Church sources, which for security reasons wish to remain anonymous. “There are those who have seen, in Conakry's two hospitals, some thirty bodies. The personal doctor mentioned that many other bodies were taken directly to the Alpha Yaya military camp, Presidential headquarters. Here, among the wounded are the opposition leaders, Diahlen Diallo and Sidia Toure, who are wounded and now under arrest. The homes of the opposition leaders have been sacked.” According to the press, the opposition leaders were freed after the intervention of the Religious Council of Guinea, which includes Christian and Muslim representatives.
Already last week, fighting was feared because political tensions increased. The former leaders of government (during Conte's dictatorship) have condemned Dadis' candidacy in the Presidential race next January. They have formed parties and a regrouping (the “Live Forces”); they have spoken harshly in Paris, Brussels, and New York, and have returned to Conakry. These forces want to take the country and see the candidacy of Dadis for President as an enormous obstacle. Dadis, for his part, has shown his true military side in politics and the situation is slipping out of his hands.
The spark of the fighting was the “conquest” of the soccer stadium on the part of some thousand people who were demonstrating against the candidacy of Dadis, who yesterday tried to “cancel” the demonstration by declaring the day a national holiday (for the refusal of Sekou Toure to agree to the “Communauté Française,” called for in the Constitution of the Fifth Republic of De Gaulle in 1958, which made way for the country's independence), to encourage people to stay home. The stadium – after the convocation – was denied to the demonstrators, who proceeded in breaking down the gates. Once inside, the police launched an attack of tear gas and even opened fire on them. This is where there was the highest number of deaths. Witnesses say there were also members of the special forces wearing ski masks. Around the stadium, in the Belle Vue neighborhood, demonstrators attacked a commissary's office and burned a police offer and security guard alive, taking their arms. The battle continued mainly in the outskirts, in Peul (Bambeto, Hamdalaye). This demonstration of the “Live Forces” was not supported by the city officials. The Islamic community and the Catholic and Anglican Churches, on September 25, sent a statement to the people, asking that they remain at home and not to commit acts of violence. The Live Forces, in response to the statement, accused the Church and the Islamic community of being inclined to power and out of the story.”
While news continues to come in from Conakry, reporting periodical skirmishes, the UN, African Union, European Union, and various countries, including France and the US have severely condemned the use of force on demonstrators. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2009)
