- Title: Thousands in Guinea march against president's possible third term bid
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: CONAKRY, GUINEA (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) TOP VIEW OF HUGE CROWD OF PROTESTERS ON MAIN ROAD PROTESTERS CHANTING PROTESTERS LEADING THE CHANT 'LIBERATE IBRAHIMA (DIALLO), CROWDS CHANT 'LIBERATE', BILL DE SAM, CROWDS CHANT 'LIBERATE' ELIE DAMANO, CROWDS CHANT 'LIBERATE' (French) REFERRING TO THE JAILED FNDC MEMBERS CROWDS AROUND OPEN TOP CAR WITH OPPOSITION UFDG (UNION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES OF GUINEA) LEADER CELLOU DIALLO DIALLO IN THE CAR WAIVING CROWD OF PROTESTERS ON TOP OF VAN (SOUNDBITE) (French) OPPOSITION UFDG (UNION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES OF GUINEA) LEADER, CELLOU DIALLO, SAYING: "Our first aim is to demand Alpha Conde renounce his plan for a third mandate. The second is to demand the release of our comrades Abdurahmane Sanoh and his colleagues as well as all those who were arrested and sentenced during our protests on the 14, 15 and 16th of October." Le premier motif c'est de demander a Alpha Conde de renoncer a son project de troisieme mandat. Le deuxieme c'est exiger la liberation de nos camarades Abdurahmane Sanoh et ses collegues ainsi que tous ceux qui ont ete arretes et condamnes a l'ocasion de nos manifestations du 14, 15 et 16 octobre." CROWDS MARCHING TOP VIEW OF HUGE CROWD AND FLAGS SUPPORTERS ON TOP OF CAR DRIVING THROUGH CROWD BACK OF SUPPORTERS MARCHING SIDIA TOURE OPPOSITION UFR PARTY LEADER IN A CAR WAIVING AT CROWDS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SIDIA TOURE, OPPOSITION UFR (UNION OF REPUBLICAN FORCES) PARTY LEADER, SAYING: "I have never seen such a full and consensual demonstration since I have been in politics except when we were fighting against the military." "Je n'ai jamais vu une manifestation aussi fournie, aussi consensuelle depuis que je suis en politique ici sauf quand on etait dans le combat contre les militaires.†PROTESTERS MARCHING CONAKRY, GUINEA (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) POLICE COMING OUT OF TRUCK OUTSIDE COURT WHERE FNDC MEMBERS ARE BEING TRIED ACCUSED FNDC MEMBERS ARRIVING IN WHITE MINI-VAN ENTERING YARD OF THE COURT PEOPLE OUTSIDE COURT LAWYERS IN YARD OF THE COURT SUPPORTERS OF FNDC CHANTING SEEN THROUGH WINDOW (SOUNDBITE) (French) SALIFOU BEAVOGUI, LAWYER FOR THE DEFENCE, SAYING: "We appeal forthwith against this decision which has no legal basis (q: you said you were not surprised?) But we were not surprised because as we said coming into this trial we knew that all was lost before it even started. But we shall continue to fight for the defence of our freedoms as consecrated by the constitution." Nous relevons 'seance tenante' appel contre cette decision qui ne repose sur aucune base legal (question: vous avez dit que vous n'etiez pas surpris?) mais nous n'etions pas surpris parce que nous l'avons dit dans notre, en venant a ce proces nous savions que tout etait perdu a l'avance. Mais nous continueront a nous battre pour defendre les libertes consacrees par la constitution.†ABDOULAYE OUMOU SOW, JOURNALIST AND BLOGGER AND FNDC MEMBER WHO WAS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE ONE OF THE THREE FNDC MEMBERS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE SHAKING HANDS PEOPLE OUTSIDE COURTROOM (SOUNDBITE) (French) ABDOULAYE OUMOU SOW, JOURNALIST AND BLOGGER AND FNDC MEMBER WHO WAS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE, SAYING: "I am free but I don't feel free knowing my comrades are in prison and I leave with a lot of sorrow because Guinean citizens died and no enquiry has been opened for these Guinean citizens. I leave pained and i leave more and more committed to defend this freedom, to defend this constitution because the nation's survival depends on it. We must defend this freedom for which our comrades have fallen, for which our comrades are in prison, for this freedom we must defend it even with our lives, with the citizens who died from the bullets of the security forces.†"Je me sens dehors mais je ne me sens pas libéré dans la mesure ou déjà il y a mes camarades qui sont en prison et je sors avec beaucoup de peine parce que je trouve aussi qu'il y a des citoyens Guinéen qui sont mort et des enquêtes n'ont même pas été ouvertes pour ces citoyens Guinéen. Je sors peine et je sors de plus en plus engage pour défendre cette liberté, pour défendre cette constitution parce que je pense que la survie de la nation en dépend, il faut défendre cette liberté pour lesquels les camarades sont tombes, pour lesquels les camarades sont en prison, pour cette liberté nous devons la défendre même au prix de notre vie, au prix de ces citoyens qui sont morts sous les balles des forces de l'ordre." (SOUNDBITE) (French) ASMAOU DIALLO, WIFE OF IBRAHIM DIALLO, FDNC MEMBER WHO WAS SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IN PRISON, SAYING: It is unfair and I condemn this decision. Once again, it is for everyone, all the people of Guinea, to mobilise to say no to remote-control justice, which we reject for this group of 6 or 7. But tomorrow, it could be you, it could be any Guinean." C'est injuste et je dénonce cette décision. Encore une fois c'est à tout le monde, a tout le peuple de Guinée de se mobiliser pour dire non à la justice téléguidée, qu'on n'accepte pas aujourd'hui sur ce groupe de 6 ou de 7. Mais demain ça peut être vous, ça peut être n'importe quel Guinéen.†EXTERIOR COURT SECURITY CLOSING DOOR OF COURT HOUSE
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 16:59
- Keywords: President Alpha Conde Guinea opposition campaigners Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea National Front for the Defence of the Constitution Cellou Diallo Third Mandate
- Location: CONAKRY, GUINEA / PARIS, FRANCE
- City: CONAKRY, GUINEA / PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: Guinea
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GIWD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of people chanting "Amoulanfe" and "Free the prisoners" brought the Guinea capital Conakry to a standstill on Thursday (October 24) to protest against a possible change in the constitution that would give President Alpha Conde a third term in office.
Amoulanfe means "it will not pass" in the local Susu language referring to attempts to change the constitution.
The march was organised by the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a coalition of politicians and activists. More than 10 of them were sentenced to prison terms varying between 6 months and a year on Tuesday for inciting violence.
The peaceful, albeit heavily policed, protests were held in number of cities across the West African country.
Guinea, with a population of nearly 13 million, is Africa's biggest bauxite producer and is host to international mining companies.
On Tuesday, twelve FNDC leaders were sentenced to up to a year in prison for organising previous rallies in which nine people were killed. Last week, police opened fire on protesters as they ransacked military posts and blocked roads.
"Our first aim is to demand Alpha Conde renounce his plan for a third mandate. The second is to demand the release of our comrades Abdurahmane Sanoh and his colleagues as well as all those who were arrested and sentenced during our protests on the 14, 15 and 16th of October," said the main opposition leader Cellou Diallo
Eighty-one-year-old Conde, whose second and final five-year term expires next year, has refused to rule out running again and asked his government last month to look into drafting a new constitution.
His opponents fear that could be used as a reset button on his presidency, allowing him to run again like other African leaders who have amended or changed constitutions in recent years to stay in power.
Conde's first election victory in 2010 raised hopes for democratic progress in Guinea after two years of military rule and nearly a quarter of a century under authoritarian President Lansana Conte, who died in 2008.
But his critics accuse him of cracking down on dissent and violently repressing protests - charges he denies.
(Souleymane Camara, Yvonne Bell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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