Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08PORTLOUIS267, SPPF LOSES CHANCE TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION BUT CASTS A SHADOW

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08PORTLOUIS267.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08PORTLOUIS267 2008-07-25 10:36 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Port Louis
VZCZCXRO6103
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPL #0267/01 2071036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251036Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4119
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 2992
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT LOUIS 000267 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV 
NAIROBI FOR RANDY FLEITMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PROP PINS KDEM PINR SE
SUBJECT: SPPF LOSES CHANCE TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION BUT CASTS A SHADOW 
ON SEYCHELLES' ELECTIONS 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (U) The Seychelles National Party (SNP) won the July 18 
by-election provoked by the resignation of Jean Francois Ferrari, 
thus, the ruling Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) 
remains one seat shy of being able to amend the constitution.  Oddly 
enough, had the SPPF won this seat, it could have gained a 
two-thirds majority in the Parliament and thus obtained the ability 
to change the constitution unilaterally.  The SPPF, however, 
boycotted the election at the instruction of former President Albert 
Rene, reportedly to save resources for general elections rather than 
contest a seat in an SNP stronghold.  Rumors of SPPF-conducted voter 
intimidation -- meant to keep voter turnout low -- abound in the 
press.  Some public sources cite this as the reason for the low 
voter turnout rate of 26 percent. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
FERRARI RESIGNS FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
-------------------------------------- 
2. (U) On June 17 during a session of the National Assembly, House 
Speaker, Dr. Patrick Herminie, allegedly ignored a motion made by an 
opposition National Assembly member Jean Francois Ferrari, who 
wanted to intervene on the Civil Servants Ethics Bill. When Herminie 
failed to allow motion, Ferrari protested and the Speaker 
subsequently ousted him from the National Assembly and ordered the 
Police to physically remove Ferrari from the building.  Ferrari, an 
SNP Member of National Assembly (MNA), then announced his 
resignation on June 20, as a protest for the treatment he received 
in the National Assembly.  According to opposition newspapers, this 
incident was the "last straw in a long list of mind games" played by 
Herminie on Opposition MNAs. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
VOTER INTIMIDATION POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTOR TO LOW VOTER TURNOUT 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
3. (U) Post contacts reported that since Ferrari's constituency, 
Mont Fleuri, is currently an SNP bastion, there was little chance 
that the party would have lost this by-election.  The SPPF seemed to 
think along these same lines, with local press reporting that the 
SPPF planned to use the money saved on this bid towards the 2011 
Legislative elections.  According to both press reports and EMBOFFS 
conversations with opposition contacts, since SPPF had little hope 
of winning the election they would rather undermine the election 
through an organized boycott-- therefore sacrificing the opportunity 
to gain the two- thirds majority in Parliament necessary to be able 
to change the constitution unilaterally.  In a June 26 interview on 
the state-owned Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation television 
network, former President Albert Ren called on SPPF supporters to 
"stay at home" on Election Day.  The SPPF party also issued a press 
release announcing that they would not participate in the 
by-election, which it dubbed "childish and a farce" (The Nation, 
June 27). 
 
4. (SBU) According to press reports,  Mont Fleuri public servants 
feared reprisals were they to vote in the election.  On 28 June, a 
group of public servants wrote a letter to Paul Chow, leader of the 
Democratic Party (DP), to ask him to withdraw his party's candidate 
from the by-election race, so only the SNP candidate would remain on 
the ballot. With only one candidate, a vote would not be necessary 
and public servants would no longer be vulnerable to any 
voting-related reprisals.  (NOTE: Public servants make up the 
majority of the workforce throughout the country.  After the 
unexpected sacking of 56 officials in July 2007, many of them 
continue to fear losing their job for voicing opposition to the 
SPPF. END NOTE.) SNP leader, Wavel Ramkalawan, told EMBOFFS that 
some voters feared losing their jobs, or that their bank loan or 
license applications could be rejected. 
 
5. (SBU) The June 28 letter addressed to Chow referred to monitoring 
done by SPPF supporters that allegedly took place since Ferrari's 
resignation announcement.  The civil servants' letter voiced 
concerned that, "... [The] SPPF have now become more violent than 
ever." 
 
6. (U) After the by-election, officials from both factions of the 
opposition, SNP and DP, complained of SPPF voter monitoring done on 
Election Day.  SNP head, Wavel Ramkalawan, said that his party filed 
harassment complaints with the Electoral Commissioner's Office. 
 
7. (U) Only 704 out of 2,655 registered voters (26 percent) voted. 
This is considerably low compared to the usual high voter turnout 
(87.6 percent in 2007 general elections) for the Seychelles.  As 
this was the first by-election since the multi-party system began 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000267  002 OF 002 
 
 
with the Third Republic in 1992, comparisons only can be made with 
general election turnouts.  The opposition, however, attributed the 
low voter turnout directly to what they labeled a "terror campaign" 
conducted by the SPPF. 
 
-------------------------- 
OPPOSITION REMAINS DIVIDED 
-------------------------- 
 
8. (U) The three-week campaign leading to the by-election also 
revealed that opposition parties, SNP and DP, are not any closer to 
brokering a new political alliance or rebuilding the relationship 
they once shared.  This informal alliance between SNP and DP ended 
in October 2007 following divergent views on the One-China policy 
and a Seychelles-France surveillance agreement for Seychelles' 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  As a result, Frank Elizabeth, the 
then proportional elected DP candidate, lost his seat to an SNP 
candidate.  The relations between the two opposition parties have 
been sour ever since.  (Note: This relationship is important because 
it was the joining of the two opposition parties in May 2007 that 
prevented the SPPF from obtaining full control of the National 
Assembly. End Note.) 
 
9. (SBU) Ramkalawan told EMBOFFS that any alliance with DP is now 
"dead" because DP stood against the SNP in this by-election; 
however, both the Seychelles Weekly and The Nation reported 
exchanges of correspondences between both opposition leaders. 
Ramkalawan failed to mention the aforementioned exchange of 
correspondences, but did say that Chow does not represent the DP 
directorate.  According to press articles before the by-election, 
Chow said that his party would be ready to withdraw their candidate 
if SNP would only accept going into alliance again. 
 
-------- 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
10. (SBU) Albert Ren's appeal to voters to not vote and the 
apparent fear expressed by some public servants could have impacted 
the voter turn-out.  Regardless, the manner in which the 
by-elections came about suggests that Ren, who stepped down as 
leader in 2004, is still a key player in the SPPF party and in 
Seychelles politics.  For some time, Embassy contacts have reported 
growing uneasiness among a variety of senior SPPF officials, to 
include President James Alix Michel, who feel constrained in their 
ability to make decisions.  It is interesting to note, therefore, 
that it was Rene and not Michel who made the public statements about 
the by-election. 
 
CABRERA