AFP — 11/20/09
Ouagadougou — Efforts to end Guinea's political deadlock following a massacre at a political rally stalled on Friday with the opposition's rejection of an international mediator's proposals.
“The fundamental preoccupations of the Guinean people have not been taken into account,” said an opposition statement after Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore suggested junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara stay in power.
The opposition has repeatedly insisted Camara should relinquish power, following a massacre on September 28 of Guineans in a Conakry stadium when they turned out for a rally to oppose Camara's bid to stand for election in January next year.
“The delegation of the Forum of Active Forces (Forces Vives — opposition, trade unions and civil society) has decided to reject the proposed political accord, in the form in which it has been submitted,” a joint statement said.
In his proposal, Compaore suggests forming a national transition council led by Camara, who would remain head of state and the army's supreme commander, while a head of government would come from the opposition.
“The national transition council will be charged with organizing presidential elections within 10 months,” a mediation document said.
The transition period would start in December, it added. During the interim Guinea would also have a government of national unity made up of 10 members of the anti-junta opposition, 10 people from the junta's ruling council and 10 others, possibly to be occupied by small political parties that support the military leadership.
Under the proposed deal, Camara and any other government members would be able to be a candidate for the presidential elections if they step down four months before the vote.
“The entire international community has said what the minimum is, the non-candidacy of CNDD (junta) members and its president,” said opposition member Francois Lonseny Fall.
“Giving him (Camara) the right not only to stay and preside over the national transition council, which is a legislative organ, (but) also for him to have executive and legislative power for 10 months is like giving Dada (Camara) a reward,” he said.
Despite the criticism, the opposition did not reject Compaore's mediation.
“For now, we do not reject the mediator. We have simply told him our disagreement ... if he takes our concerns into account and draws up a more balanced and reasonable document, there's no problem,” said Cellou Dalein Diallo of the Union of Guinea's Democratic Forces.
Rights activist Mamadi Kaba accused Compaore outright of bias.
“He's taken a position in favour of the junta and has even offered more than (the junta) wanted,” Kaba told AFP.
The junta has already said it is satisfied with the proposals which see them making very little concessions.
Camara came to power in a bloodless coup on December 23, 2008 after the death of dictator Lansana Conte, who had led the country since 1984. After an initial period of optimism the mood turned sour in the mineral-rich country.
When Guineans turned out in a Conakry stadium to oppose Camara's standing for the presidency, troops opened fire and killed 157 people, according to the opposition and Human Rights Watch. Many women were also publicly raped by the soldiers.
The junta says that 56 people were killed and 934 injured in the stadium.
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