Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Search

 

Cablegate: Niger: Civil Rights Activist Receives Suspended Sentence

VZCZCXRO3213
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0085 0321625
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011625Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5601
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1730
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000085

DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Civil Rights Activist Receives Suspended Sentence

Ref: Niamey 00684

1. (SBU) On January 25, the Court of Appeals of Niamey delivered its
verdict of a three-month suspended prison sentence on the appeal
lodged by Marou Amadou, president of the United Front for the
Preservation of Democratic Gains (FUSAD) on charges of "regional
propaganda" (Note: meaning inciting neighboring states within the
region through the release of false and/or misleading information.
End note.) Amadou's camp condemned the conviction and called for
the immediate vacation of the courts' rulings against him.

2. (SBU)On January 11, Amadou attended hearings on his appeal in the
presence of observers from a delegation of the European Union and
representatives from the French Embassy and the Swiss Cooperation
Mission. Civil society organizations criticized the verdict as a
GON attempt to silence Amadou; his lawyers stated that they would
appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

3. (SBU) Since June 2009, the Government of Niger (GON) filed
lawsuits against Amadou on several charges, including participation
in the creation and/or administration of an association without
reporting such to the appropriate authorities; incitement of the
Armed Forces to disobedience; and endangering state security.
Security forces put Amadou under preventive detention on August 11,
and then granted provisional release on September 15. The dates for
hearings on the three remaining charges have not been determined.

Whitaker

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.