Cablegate: Peaceful Demonstration at Amcongen Lagos

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS LAGOS 002494

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/OSAC
ABUJA FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION AT AMCONGEN LAGOS

1. At approximately 1345, 45-50 military retirees arrived at
AmConGen Lagos carrying a placard stating that they had not
received benefits in six months. The demonstrators were
asked to move across the street from the Consulate General
which they did. Two leaders of the group met with RSO and
ARSO to request assistance from the international community
in obtaining their benefits. The leaders presented a leaflet
that announced the payment of benefits only to medically
discharged pensioners who had been authenticated in November
2002. The demonstrators were upset because some of their
number did not qualify for the benefit payment. RSO accepted
the leaflet and advised the demonstrators that the ConGen
would be apprised of their request for assistance. The
demonstrators left peacefully. The demonstration lasted
approximately seven minutes. AmConGen security personnel did
not observe the pensioners stopping at any of the other
diplomatic compounds on the crescent.

2. This was apparently a spontaneous demonstration by the
pensioners. There was no threat to visa applicants or ACS
visitors. While noisy, the demonstrators were peaceful and
once their concerns were heard, they left.
HINSON-JONES

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